Staff Writer

Parents can now enroll or re-enroll their children in the Jonesville-Lockhart Charter School for the 2009 school year.

Governing board chairman Shirley Cromer said that open enrollment begins today and continues through May 31. Students enrolled or re-enrolled during this period will be guaranteed seats in the school. She said that after May 31 students will be enrolled on a first-come, first-serve basis depending on the availability of seats.

A total of 597 students were enrolled to attend the school, which was scheduled to open in August. The opening was delayed, however, when its financing for the purchase of property and school construction fell through earlier this year. The board has asked the State Public Charter School District to authorize the school to open in 2009 which will provide time to secure new financing.

Parents who enrolled their children to attend the school this year and who want to enroll them for the 2009 school year, will have to fill out a one-page addendum to their original six-page enrollment form. Mrs. Cromer said the board mailed out the addendums to those parents on Saturday. When filled out and returned they will be added to the original enrollment form.

Enrollment forms can be downloaded at www.jonesvillelockart.org. Additional forms are available at the Lockhart Cafe, M&R Grocery and the Ashe Insurance Agency in Lockhart. In Jonesville, the forms are available at Gene's One Stop and Studio 201 Hair Salon. The forms are also available at the Union County Carnegie Library.

The forms must be mailed to the listed address, P.O. Box 45, Lockhart, 29364.

Finances

Mrs. Cromer added that a $420,000 federal Planning and Implementation grant awarded the school in February will still be available for the 2009 opening. The funds will be used to finance school operations. The school will receive the money in phases including $20,000 prior to opening, $200,000 during the first year in operation and the balance during the second year.