CUMMING - Answering the call for more trained workers to fill Georgia jobs, a partnership of stakeholders are moving forward with plans for a new charter school in Forsyth County.
The Forsyth County Public Facilities Authority (PFA) recently approved a resolution of support for the Alliance Academy for Innovation of Cumming-Forsyth County, Inc. The resolution puts a cap on the amount of funding on the project at $20 million, according to the county.
Jennifer Caracciolo, Director of Public Information and Communications for the Forsyth County Schools, said the school is designed to fill a missing college and career training component.
"We're looking for a place for students to come, where they can do real-world experiences in a simulated work environment," Caracciolo said.
Current non-traditional offerings in the school system include Forsyth Academy, Gateway Academy and the iAchieve Virtual Academy.
Caracciolo said the idea for the Alliance Academy comes after studying successes of other schools systems in the country.
"A number of other school systems across the U.S. have this approach."
The Alliance Academy would be a four-year high school, serving grades nine through 12. The ultimate goal is to have around 1000 students. Caracciolo said it would start with freshmen and sophomores.
"We're looking at high tech and high demand jobs," Caracciolo said of the potential curriculum.
Fields such as aeronautics, healthcare science, healthcare information, hospitality and tourism, public safety and wireless communication are being explored, according to Caracciolo.
She said the project is the first collaboration between the city of Cumming, Forsyth County PFA, Forsyth County School System, University of North Georgia and Lanier Technical College.
It would also include industry certification and a dual enrollment option with the two higher education entities.
Caracciolo said the goal is to open the school in 2018. Organizers are working with the city of Cumming to find a central location for the facility.
"We are applying for a state grant that's due in the early part of September, and so that money along with the money to build the facility, we're trying to work on the plans to see how much we'll actually need," Caracciolo said.
The September 1 PFA resolution makes the Alliance Academy the first project to be funded through the entity since its inception in 2008.
Caracciolo said organizers are excited to have PFA support.
"We are fast growth. We're trying to meet up with the needs of our students, and we're honestly playing catch-up from the recession with our building program."
PFA's enabling legislation will need a slight revision from the Georgia General Assembly to make clear that revenue bond projects with the school system are allowed, according to the county.
