The School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) approved the renewal of three public charter schools in Gainesville at its meeting on Tuesday.  

Resilience Charter School and North Central Florida Public Charter School were both approved for five-year renewals, while Charing and Sharing Learning School was approved for a 10-year renewal. 

According to the meeting’s agenda, Resilience Charter School has been in continuous operation since 2017. However, the school has received a “D” grade over the past two school years, “and has remained under the oversight and ongoing support of the Bureau of School Improvement.” 

The agenda said prior audits have found concerns related to financial instability at Resilience. The required 2024-25 audit was submitted on Jan. 13, which was after the statutory deadline of Sept. 30, 2025, according to the agenda.  

Additionally, at the time of renewal review in mid-January, the district had not received the school’s October 2025 and November 2025 monthly financial statements and was not able to “verify the school’s current financial condition,” according to the agenda. 

Resilience has also faced a “sustained decline in student enrollment over several years,” the agenda noted. This has coincided “with multiple changes in school administration, governing board membership, and instructional staff.” 

“Based on review of the academic, financial, and operational factors outlined above, the [Alachua County Charter Renewal] Committee recommends that Resilience Charter School be considered for a five-year charter renewal,” the agenda said.  

Resilience principal Michael Aponte attended the meeting and addressed the board before the vote. 

“During the 2023-24 school year, Resilience experienced mid-year administrative changes followed by a full governing board transition at the end of that year,” he said. “Those shifts understandably impacted consistency across academics, operations and reporting. Since then, our new governing board and leadership have found our fairness. We have stabilized operations and are bringing our budget in line. Our financial audit and required submissions have now been submitted and systems are in place to ensure ongoing timelessness, accountability and transparency.” 

Board Members Tina Certain and Sarah Rockwell expressed concerns over the school’s financial issues, particularly the late reporting, as well as the decline in enrollment. 

“I know that our staff is working with you,” Rockwell said while addressing Aponte. “I know you are working. And I am confident that if our staff recommends renewal, that you’re doing that work. And I just wanted to tell you that I truly hope that you can turn this around, because we have very few options for middle schoolers who need smaller settings, and Resilience is one of those options.” 

North Central Florida Public, formerly known as Mycroschool, has been in continuous operation since 2011, according to the agenda. The school is classified as a Rated School “and has received ongoing support from the Bureau of School Improvement,” including help through the Unified School Improvement Grant (UniSIG), for several years. 

The agenda said North Central Florida Public “demonstrates financial stability and maintains enrollment levels that appropriately fluctuate in response to population changes,” with an average of roughly 175 students annually, and “continues to serve an ongoing district need by providing credit recovery options.” 

“We have stayed true to our founding mission of providing a second, and sometimes third, opportunity for students to be able to complete their high school diploma,” North Central Florida Public principal Randy Starling said while addressing the board. “I want to thank the board and the school district for always having been cooperative and supportive of our school and our mission.” 

The agenda said Caring and Sharing has been in continuous operation since 1998. The school has been granted two 10-year charter renewals in the past; however, in 2021, it was approved for a five-year renewal because of “concerns related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a temporary decline in academic performance.” 

Caring and Sharing principal Curtis Peterson was joined at the meeting by several members of the school, as well as Verna Johnson, who, along with her late husband, Dr. Simon Johnson, founded Caring and Sharing.  

“We have some pillars that we stand on…” Peterson said. “That’s high student expectation, high parent involvement and high parent and community involvement, and all those working together.” 

The board approved each of the public charter school renewals separately by way of a 4-0 vote, with Vice Chair Leanetta McNealy absent for all three votes. 

McNealy had left the meeting before the board discussed and approved the charter renewals, which were listed as action items on the agenda. 

Her reason for leaving stemmed from a discussion the board had before the action item portion of the meeting about potential dates for the board to participate in a master board training workshop with the Florida School Board Association (FSBA). 

Board Chair Thomas Vu was in favor of having the discussion item – labeled as “Way of Work” – added to the agenda, noting that the board had collectively agreed to participate in master board training with the FSBA in February 2025.  

“I do feel like we as a board have – from the public and from the state – received a lot of legitimate concerns about the way we work and address each other…” he said.  

McNealy asked Vu if he was referring to “Way of Work” or master board training. 

“So, if we did the master board training, it would be a many-day process,” he replied. “We’re just talking about now something short that FSBA can help give us some feedback and advice on.” 

McNealy agreed that the board could do a better job of working together, but noted that members needed to “look inward” at themselves to accomplish that.  

“A workshop is not going to improve that, Chairman Mr. Vu,” she said, adding that more time would need to be dedicated to make necessary improvements. “I’m not willing to do that in two hours.” 

Vu said he didn’t think the intention would be to stop at two hours. 

“It’s a starting point, and I do feel like it’s important for us as a board to come to some kind of consensus of how we treat one another and how we discuss items,” he said.  

In response, McNealy said, “that comes with home training…knowing your responsibility as an elected official [and] simple politeness.” 

“So, what I’m hearing is you are unwilling to participate [in the training]?” Vu asked. “Thank you.” 

Board Member Janine Plavac shared a similar perspective to McNealy.  

“I will respect the board. I will do my job, but I am not going to a ‘Way of Work’ for two hours to tell me how I’m supposed to work together, when I can work together with anybody,” she said. “So, I will not attend.” 

After further discussion from the board and advice from Board Attorney David Delaney, McNealy attempted to get Vu’s attention, as if she wanted to speak again. However, Vu moved the meeting forward, noting that everyone had a chance to speak once and there was no further discussion. 

The board proceeded to approve the consent agenda and moved into the action item portion of the meeting. However, as the presentation started for the charter renewals, Delaney called for a recess.  

During the recess, Delaney got up from the dias, and he and McNealy walked into a room behind the dias. When they exited, a visibly frustrated McNealy proceeded to walk off the dias and into the main boardroom, where she could be overheard saying, “I’m going home.” 

McNealy exited the boardroom and did not return.  

Whether the board decides to move forward with the training is unclear.  

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.