SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The management company of a Southfield school that closed this week without warning parents and students has released a statement about the decision.
You can read the full statement from Renaissance School Services below:
Recommended Videos
"Regarding Taylor International Academy, the decision to close the school for this Thursday and Friday was made by CMU’s charter school office alone. Taylor has been struggling with finances for at least three years, before Renaissance was engaged to manage the school. Since that time we have worked with the board to resolve the financial issues, effectively by refinancing the school. In Nov. 2016 Renaissance, the school’s lender, the board, and CMU were aware that the school was going to have a cash flow issue in the spring. Prior to the winter break, a plan was assembled under which the lender agreed to refinance the loan in May, assuming the school’s enrollment stayed stable, which it did; CMU agreed to forego its authorizer fee for the full year, which it did not; and Renaissance agreed to work without its management fees for the remainder of the year, which we have done. All parties did this for the benefit of the school.
"In March the school terminated its lease with the school’s landlord as it was too expensive. The lease was in place when Renaissance arrived. The school engaged a commercial real estate broker to identify new locations. CMU was fully aware that we had to move and were looking at locations.
"It came to our attention in April that CMU was closing another campus with a large enrollment, Michigan Technical Academy, not ten minutes from Taylor. On May 9 we pitched the idea of moving Taylor to the MTA campuses to the MTA board at a public board meeting. This plan would have saved three school communities’ – Taylor’s and the two MTA campuses – students, faculty, and administration. The reaction from the MTA board was one of relief, to preserve their school communities. The Taylor board was already in support of the plan.
"On Wednesday May 10, this idea was described to CMU who said it was ingenious and issued no objection. We then scheduled a call with MTA’s bondholders at noon on May 11. At the beginning of that call we were informed by the MTA board vice president that she had received a call from CMU saying they would not allow Taylor to move to the MTA campuses. We continued the call with the bondholders who fully committed to the deal and who without the deal would suffer a $20 million default on the bonds if there was no occupant in the buildings.
"On the evening of May 10, Taylor’s board president confirmed to Renaissance that CMU would not allow the school to move to any new location, effectively killing the school, since we no longer had a lease. Since May 11, Taylor’s board has been in direct discussions with the lender, CMU, and MDE over the predicament at the school, precipitated by CMU’s decision to not allow the school to move. Renaissance has not been involved in any of these discussions since May 11.
"Renaissance was advised on Friday May 26 that it was considered a non-critical vendor and would not be paid; we said we would then terminate our relationship and remove the leadership from the building on May 31. CMU has acknowledged knowing this since May 26. On Tuesday May 30 we issued our formal letter of termination and advised the board to advise CMU to have people in place to manage the school. On Wednesday May 31, CMU entered the building, had no plan to administer it, and decided to close it at the end of the day for Thursday and Friday while it determined how it wanted to proceed.
"We are planning on bringing the denial by CMU’s charter office to allow Taylor to move to CMU’s Board of Trustees."
Parents frustrated by school closing
Parents and students who showed up for preschool graduation day at Taylor International Academy were greeted by locked doors as school shut down early.
Parents said they didn't receive the warning they needed, and now they're uncertain about where to send their children.
Children were in their caps and gowns in the school parking lot for what was expected to be a fun and proud event. Instead, parents were left furious.
The charter school suddenly shut down Wednesday, leaving the students and parents out in the parking lot.
Central Michigan University oversees the charter school and said it had no choice because, as a safety issue, the school had to be closed Thursday and Friday.
"With the lack of administration and a non-functioning board, CMU determined it was in the best interest of the students and their safety and well-being to suspend the school's contract and close the school for Thursday, June 1, and Friday, June 2," a Central Michigan University spokesperson said in a statement.
But parents don't think the doors will ever reopen.
Central Michigan University is expected to make a decision Friday on whether school will resume next week.
MAPSA statement on school closing
The Michigan Association of Public School Academies also released a statement on the closing of Taylor International Academy.
Here's the full statement from MAPSA President Dan Quisenberry:
"Taylor International Academy, a charter school in Southfield, is being closed by its authorizer, Central Michigan University. The school’s management company, Renaissance School Services, ceased managing the school and pulled the leadership management team and resources out of the school before the end of the school year, creating an inappropriate situation for students and teachers.
"A majority of the school’s board members then resigned, leaving the school with no governance or management in place. The school has already met its required number of hours for the year.
"MAPSA and CMU will now be assisting parents, students and staff in finding a quality school for the fall by hosting a Parent and Talent Expo at the school next Thursday, June 8, from noon to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Parents and students will have the chance to get information on quality schools in the area, and staff members will have the opportunity to meet with recruiters at those schools.
"'This is a tragic and unfortunate situation for all of the students, parents and staff at Taylor International Academy. Pulling their management team was a horribly unprofessional way for Renaissance School Services to handle this pending closure,' Quisenberry said. 'The focus now is on finding a quality school this fall for all of Taylor International Academy’s students, and MAPSA and CMU are working to facilitate that transition by hosting the Parent and Talent Expo. Every one of those students deserves to be in a better school, and we’re going to help them get there.
"'MAPSA is also committed to helping the teachers and staff through this transition. We will do everything in our power to help them receive the compensation for the hard work they have already done.'"
Stay with ClickOnDetroit.com for updates.