The Alachua County School Board unanimously approved the Newberry Community Charter contract and facilities contract in a special meeting Monday morning.
The five-year charter contract cements Newberry Community School Inc., a five-person not-for-profit, as the authority to operate the school starting July 1, 2026.
The board also approved a facilities management agreement, allowing the charter to remain on the district-owned campus while outlining shared responsibilities for maintenance and repairs.
Teachers and parents from Newberry Elementary School voted on the school’s conversion in April 2024.
Despite a failed vote, NCS Inc. submitted the official conversion charter application in November 2024 to the Florida Charter Review Commission.
Florida’s Charter School Review Commission approved the conversion in February. The decision sparked legal and ethical concerns over a diminishing role of local control in school governance.
The board asked the Florida State Board of Education to overturn the Charter Review Commission’s decision in a letter March 26.
Monday’s meeting began with public commenter Peggy Vermont, a 52-year-old Gainesville resident, who spoke against the contract approval and the school’s intended start date.
“It looks like you’ve all rolled over and decided this is going to happen,” Vermont said. “Putting a start date when there is currently an appeal is dangerous.”
Approving the contract doesn’t waive the board's rights in any legal proceedings, according to Staff Attorney Will Spillias.
Under the charter contract, NCS Inc. will be held accountable for academic and financial performance under Florida law. The school must submit annual financial audits, standardized test results and governance documentation to the district.
The charter board will be subject to intervention if it fails to meet academic benchmarks, violates law or mismanages funds. The school could be terminated if it receives two consecutive “F” grades or is found to pose a serious threat to student health or safety, according to the contract.
During the meeting, ACPS Charter Schools Manager Ginger Stanford said Newberry Community Charter’s enrollment would be determined by zoning boundaries.
Under the facilities agreement, the charter school can perform non-capital repairs under $10,000. The school board will oversee capital improvements and preventive maintenance for major systems such as HVAC, roofing, security and fire protection.
NCS Inc. will be responsible for custodial services, landscaping and upkeep of interiors, including lighting, plumbing, doors and restrooms.
The charter school must develop an annual preventive maintenance plan approved by the superintendent. If the charter fails to uphold its maintenance responsibilities, the district may shift costs for future repairs onto the school.
The contracts do not mention the City of Newberry’s role in financially backing the charter’s application. The City pledged $2.2 million in financial and legal support throughout the application process, including a $100,000 legal services contract signed with the school’s attorney in June 2024.
NCS Inc. would be responsible for the operation and fiscal management of the school, according to the contract.
The next regularly scheduled ACSB meeting is July 31.
Contact Sara-James Ranta at sranta@alligator.org. Follow her on X @sarajamesranta.
Sara-James Ranta is a journalism senior, minoring in sociology of social justice and policy. She previously served as Metro's K-12 education reporter. In her free time, SJ is watching a new show, listening to EDM or discussing Star Wars.
