Bibb County seemed set to welcome charter school to district. Why the approval was halted

The Bibb County Board of Education denied an attempt for a local charter school to join the district Thursday.

The Infinity Academy previously had support from Superintendent Dan Sims and other board members, who recommended approving the school in July. But now the board has questioned the accuracy of crucial content in the charter school’s proposed petition.

There are concerns regarding The Infinity Academy’s lack of federal 501(c)(3) non-profit status, Deputy Superintendent Katika Lovett said at the board meeting.

Charter schools in Georgia are required to organize and operate as non-profit organizations. The Infinity Academy is not officially registered as a nonprofit entity with the IRS, according to school officials.

Christopher Holmes, head of the K-5 charter school, said the academy’s nonprofit registration process began in January but is being delayed due to the submission of the wrong forms.

Board President James Freeman, who also initially expressed excitement for the prospective school, said a deep investigation into the school’s petition led to some “disturbing things.”

“We saw information in the application that was not accurate,” Freeman said, including people listed in the documents who were previously affiliated with the academy’s governing board. “At least two of the names that I recognized that lent credence to this application were people I later found out had resigned from the board.”

One of those was Pamela Burkhalter, a former BCSD employee, The Macon Newsroom reported. Burkhalter also told The Macon Newsroom she resigned because she thought someone else might be a better fit for the role. Holmes told The Telegraph that Burkhalter resigned because she felt overwhelmed by additional responsibilities outside of the board.

Freeman said he followed up with Burkhalter and verified the allegations in the article. Freeman also revealed that Burkhalter’s signature had been forged on documents without her knowledge, including a notarized signature.

“As an attorney, I have a big problem with that. That’s illegal,” he added. “That starts us off at a very bad foot as far as confidence in this application (and) confidence in everything going forward.”

Holmes said that Burkhalter gave him permission twice to sign her name on a document that acknowledged the charter school’s petition and all of its information to be accurate. He said he included the single document in the nearly 200-page petition without letting Burkhalter view it first.

“I apologize to her because I communicated to her, but I did not give her full clarity on what that document actually was,” he said.

Burkhalter could not be immediately reached on Friday.

Holmes said documents in The Infinity Academy’s application were already submitted to the Bibb County board prior to Burkhalter’s resignation, and they could not be changed.

Sherry Olivier, the charter school’s treasurer, was the only requester to comment publicly during the meeting. She said the school was diligently working to secure nonprofit status. Its pending 501(c)(3) application is being reviewed by the IRS.

“I also want to clarify that since the design process (of the school), this board and Dr. Holmes have operated with integrity and transparency,” Olivier added. “If there was any miscommunication, it was not intentional. I also want to say that we offer an apology if there was any confusion at all.”

Olivier’s statement contradicts the school’s website, which lists it as a “501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides a free and appropriate education.” The website was created in 2023.

The Infinity Academy’s curriculum features a STEAM-led model that would expose more BCSD students to the learning approach, which will enhance student confidence, academic success and character building, Olivier added.

The school still anticipates opening in downtown Macon in the fall of 2025.

In July, Bibb County board members discussed whether the district would prefer to collaborate or compete with the prospective school. Voting plans were halted after three board members raised concerns about not having enough time to review the charter school’s petition.

But after Thursday’s decision, voting plans are unnecessary. The Bibb County Board of Education will no longer have any actions related to the academy, district spokesperson Stephanie Hartley said in an email Friday morning.

Now, The Infinity Academy’s future rests with the State Charter Schools Commission, as it seeks approval to operate as a state-authorized school rather than a locally-approved charter.

The school would have no ties to the Bibb County School District if approved by the state, Hartley added.

Freeman said he was disappointed with how the situation unfolded.

“I regret that the people in charge of this have put this opportunity in this position,” he said.

Holmes said he and charter school’s governing board are still excited for the possibility to create a learning opportunity for elementary students in Macon.