When the bell rings at 2:30 p.m. today, students at Kinston Charter Academy will be leaving the school for the last time.
Principal Ozie Hall Jr. said today will be the last day of classes due to the school's "lack of financial resources and means to continue operations."
A resolution passed by board members during a special meeting on Tuesday shows the Academy had $354,000 deficit in 2007.
The same document states that the school was able to obtain a $49,000 surplus in 2012. However, disciplinary actions and chronic low performance have forced the school to close.
At a March meeting of the N.C. Board of Education, it was noted that the school has been on fiscal noncompliance status in 2010, 2012 and 2013 due to cash flow issues, negative equity, delinquent payments and other fiscal issues.
Kinston Charter Academy will officially surrender its charter to the North Carolina Board of Education next Tuesday.
Joel Medley, director of the office of charter schools for the State Board of Education, said it was unfortunate the school closed so close to the beginning of the year.
In a letter sent out to parents, Hall said the school strongly recommended Children’s Village Academy as an alternative. CVA is at 701 N. Adkin St. in Kinston.
The letter also gave parents contact information for Lenoir, Greene and Pitt County schools. It also gave the name of an Internet site where parents can find out how to formally establish a home school.
April Battle, who had three children enrolled at the Academy, said she was overwhelmed and angry when she first heard the news.
“I was in a big stir up,” Battle said.
Battle said she was able to enroll two of her children at Northeast Elementary School and the other at Rochelle Middle School, but it wasn’t easy.
Battle said she did not have much time and had to fill out a lot of paperwork to ensure her children were enrolled.
When she arrived at Kinston Charter Academy Thursday morning, Battle said she was given the letter from the school and that is the only official word she has received so far.
Lenoir County Superintendent Stephen Mazingo said Lenoir County Public Schools will do what it can to ensure a smooth transition.
“We will welcome students back and make it the best possible experience for them,” Mazingo said.
Lidia Guzman, Lenoir County Public Schools public information officer, said parents have already begun enrolling their children at Northeast Elementary School.
A press conference addressing the closing will be held at Kinston Charter Academy at noon today.
For parents needing help in the transition process, Kinston Charter Academy will be open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Monday. Parents can also contact the school by phone, 252-522-2584.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @ nclark763.