School Closure Plan
Consistent with Utah Code 53A-1a-510.5, Charter School Closure, Aristotle Academyis committed to the following school closure plan as required.
Upon notice from the school's authorizer regarding necessity of closure, or in the event a public charter school desires to close or become a private school, the school will provide notification of the decision in writing from the school's governing board to the State Charter School Board, the State Board of Education, parents of students enrolled at the school, school founders, creditors, and the school district in which the school is located, as well as other charter schools within that district.
The notification shall include the following information:
(1) proposed date of school closure;
(2) plan to help students identify and transition to an alternate school;
(3) contact information for the school during transition (contact person or people, emails and telephone numbers); and
(4) schedule of closure events.
Aristotle Academywill follow Utah Code with regards to the appointment of a custodian for the protection of student files, school business records, and other pertinent files and records. Additionally, individuals with knowledge of educational support, finances, and human resource law will be included to facilitate a smooth transition to closure. These items will be maintained at a base of operations or office throughout the closure process and available during hours of operation. Appropriate insurance and State Risk management coverage will be maintained throughout the transition period as well as for a time following closure as directed by the State Charter School Board.
Along with these activities, the school will complete a thorough financial audit, inventory all assets, and develop a list of all creditors, identifying secured creditors along with identifying assets that are security interests. In and through all these activities, it is the school's primary duty to protect all assets against theft, misappropriation, and deterioration. Any and all assets held subject to written conditions or limitations in accordance with Utah Code 53A-1a-517 shall be disposed of in accordance with those conditions or limitations. Further, all liabilities and obligations shall be paid and discharged or adequate provisions made to discharge liabilities and obligations as allowed by school assets. Remaining assets not encumbered by use to discharge liabilities and obligations shall be returned to the State Charter School Board. The Administrative Staff, under the direction of the Aristotle Board, will liquidate assets at fair market value or assign the assets to another public school. All leases, service agreements, and other contractual obligations that are unnecessary in the transition will be terminated upon notice of closure.
The school will submit all required documentation per the original charter agreement which verify compliance with the closure order as well as satisfaction of financial issues. Upon closure and dissolution, the State Charter School Board will conduct a final audit.
With regards to the transition of students to other schools, in the event the closure takes place following a school year, Aristotle Academywill hold informational meetings for parents and students assisting with enrollment in another school. Appropriate district personnel and interested charter schools will also be involved in these meetings so as to provide the most support to students and families throughout the transition. Every effort will be made to avoid closure during a school year. However, in the event closure takes place mid-year, these efforts will be brought on site as soon as closure becomes imminent. A primary concern will be to address the disruptive nature of sudden closure for students. Regardless of time frame, school personnel or designees will follow up once transfers are completed to make sure needs are being met and that the transition was as successful as possible.
As seen in the budget, Aristotle Academywill make sure that sufficient unrestricted funds will be available to complete the school closure plan and external audit. This effort is a minimum standard to which the school is committed to as a matter of fiscal and governance best practice. Working from such figures would ensure that the school might avoid mid-year closure and the associated negative repercussions of such actions.
According to Utah Code 53A-1a-517, a charter school may receive, hold, manage, and use any device, bequest, grant, endowment, gift, or donation of any asset made to the school for any of the purposes of this part unless a donor or grantor provides otherwise in writing. This identifies all such items as assets of the charter school. All items purchased with charter school funds are to be included in the school's assets, though it may not dispose of its assets without providing for a uniform dissolution plan should the need to close the school occurs, in accordance with Utah Code 53A-1a-510.5.
The school will maintain an accurate record of student enrollment throughout the closure process and for whatever time is specified by the State Charter School Board. This information will be kept electronically, as well as in hard copy format in a secured location as determined at the time closure is deemed the only viable option for the school.
In compliance with all fiscal practices, Aristotle Academywill keep an accurate account of the school’s financial status during and after closure activities (for the period set forth by the State Charter School Board). This fiscal oversight will be provided by the Aristotle Board, which will be officially dissolve under state law upon completion of the closure procedures. The Aristotle Board will likewise assure oversight of the school’s dissolution process and have primary responsibility for archived records. TheAristotle Board, along with key personnel,will ensure each student has complete student records (e.g., academic, health, special education, discipline, etc.) transferred to his/her transferring School. Likewise, theAristotle Board will ensure employment records are updated and archived, satisfy the school’s liabilities and distribute assets in a fair and transparent manner, and properly liquidate goods acquired through federal and state grants. The Aristotle Board of the charter school to be closed will conduct a final financial audit, maintain copies on file and submit required end-of-year reports.