Charter School Delay At Annapolis Mall Means AACPS Will Hire, Pay Teachers

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A new charter school delayed its opening in the Westfield Annapolis mall, freeing up over $3 million for Anne Arundel County to hire more teachers and pay its existing educators.

The news came after New Village Academy announced last month that it won't open until fall 2025. The charter school was originally scheduled to open this fall.

The Anne Arundel County Council adjusted its budget accordingly. The Council voted 6 to 1 Monday on Amendment 49 to reallocate the New Village Academy money, Council Administrative Officer Kaley Schultze told Patch on Thursday.

Renesha Alphonso, a spokesperson for Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, said the move:

• Increased pay to teachers for lost planning time when covering classes due to absenteeism ($2,162,100).
• Restored eight full-time equivalent teaching positions to address elementary school class sizes that may exceed 30 students ($667,200).
• Supported Pre-Kindergarten private provider programs ($41,000).
• Implemented virtual tutoring and homework help programs after school hours ($300,000).
• Included Pre-Kindergarten private provider programs as a result of an increase in State funding ($102,000).

The County Council plans to vote on the final budget Friday at its 10 a.m. meeting. It will take effect July 1, which is the start of fiscal year 2025.

Next Steps For Charter School

The Anne Arundel County Board of education approved New Village Academy in August 2023. The academy promised high school done differently with smaller class sizes and one or two days per week in a workplace. Tuition will be free, as New Village Academy will have a contract with AACPS. There will be a lottery to select students.

New Village Academy planned to open in Westfield Annapolis, but speculation over the mall's future disrupted those plans.

"This decision follows Westfield/URW's imposition of an unexpected lease negotiation freeze during a 'due diligence period' in preparation for an impending sale of the Westfield Annapolis Mall," New Village Academy said in a May 21 press release announcing the delay. "Despite enthusiasm from the 235 families who applied for 150 seats, and from community partners across the city and county for this career-connected, project-based learning model, the timing of this lease negotiation freeze will prevent the school from opening on time this Fall."

The charter school planned to spend its first year in the former Nordstrom. New Village Academy said it already secured fire and building permits, and this temporary location was already okayed by school officials.

School leaders said they had identified Mt. Olive Community Life Center and the former Aleph Bet Day School as contingency sites earlier this year.

Mt. Olive had capacity constraints, and Aleph Bet had challenging transit options.

A May 13 family survey revealed that New Village Academy would lose too many families in a last-minute transition to an alternate site, the school said.

The school added that over 85 percent of prospective students and teachers indicated they may be willing to wait for New Village Academy and are still interested for fall 2025.

"This sudden turn of events has left New Village Academy without the certainty of a physical location needed to proceed with an August 2024 opening," the release said.

New Village Academy hopes to open its permanent facility next year in the former Lord & Taylor.

"Despite the lease negotiation freeze and the resulting postponement of the school's opening, New Village Academy leadership is optimistic about preparations for its long-term facility," the release said. "They anticipate that negotiations will resume swiftly following the due diligence lease negotiation freeze either with the current owner or with a new owner."

The permanent facility already has a design by world-renowned architect Trung Le. The school said permits are near final approvals, and financing is already lined up.

"Because we have been transparent throughout the process, it has been remarkable that not one person has yet directed frustration toward New Village Academy for this turn of events," School Founder and Principal Romey Pittman said in the release.

Romey Pittman is the sister of Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman.

The school plans to "use this additional time to secure a strong funding base, finalize our innovative curriculum and assessment structures, deepen community support and partnerships, and recruit a diverse and brilliant instructional team," New Village Academy Governing Board President Darius A. Stanton stated.

Related: New Charter School Approved, Targets 2024 Opening In Annapolis Mall