Press release from Mary Halstead, executive director of Agnes J. Johnson Charter School in Weott:
Earlier this week, I shared with staff and families of Agnes J. Johnson Charter School the painful
reality that the school is facing a financial crisis with no clear path forward. That communication
was sent ahead of last night’s Board meeting so families would hear the truth directly and with
care.
At the Board meeting held last night, no formal action was taken to close the school. However,
the Board did approve moving forward with the creation of a plan to wind down operations.
Barring any substantial, unexpected financial relief, the Board expects to consider and potentially
adopt a closure resolution at its next regular meeting on February 12, 2026. Based on the
school’s current financial position, February 28, 2026 has been identified as an anticipated
closure date, with February 27 expected to be the last day of instruction for students, should
closure be approved.
Since 2020, Agnes J. Johnson Charter School has experienced a 35% decline in enrollment due
to families moving out of the area, with the most significant losses occurring during the current
school year. Because charter schools are funded on attendance and subject to midyear
recalculation, the resulting revenue loss is severe and cannot be absorbed. Despite exhausting
every available option, there is no fiscal path that allows the school to continue through the end
of the academic year.
Agnes J. Johnson School has served this community for more than 73 years. In 2019, a small
group of parents came together to prevent its closure by converting it to a charter school. That
effort was rooted in a belief that rural families deserved choice, stability, and a school that
reflected their community. Over the past five years, even amid a pandemic, natural disasters, and
ongoing economic hardship, we honored that belief.
We built something real and meaningful here. We provided small class sizes, individualized
instruction, enriching programs, and a school culture centered on belonging, responsibility, and
care for the whole child. We did the work. We kept our promises. We served children with
integrity and love.
If a closure resolution is ultimately adopted, we will walk alongside families through that
transition. We will ensure student records are transferred promptly, assist families in identifying
next placements, and work closely with the District and neighboring schools to support our
students.
This loss is profound. It is felt deeply by students, families, staff, founders, Board members, and
the wider community. While we cannot save this school again, the legacy of what was built here,
and the children who were shaped by it, will not disappear.
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