43
Former Southside academy building for sale
By Denise Dick
youngstowN
The largest for-profit charter school operator in Ohio is involved in the purchase of the former Eagle Heights Academy building and property.
The Ohio Department of Education ordered Eagle Heights closed at the end of the 2009-10 school year because of poor academic performance. South Side Academy opened last August in the same building at 1833 Market St.
The new school contracts with White Hat Management of Akron to provide its educational programming. White Hat is the largest for-profit charter-school operator in Ohio and the third-largest in the nation. It also operates Life Skills Centers in both Youngstown and Warren.
A receiver was appointed as part of the Ohio Council of Community Schools lawsuit against the former Eagle Heights. Atty. Barry Savage of Toledo, the receiver, filed an application last month in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court asking to sell the property.
Savage said there were no objections to the applications at a court hearing this week.
The application says that Mount Pleasant Realty LLC of Akron has agreed to buy the property for $100,000. BHA Southside LLC, also of Akron, has agreed to pay $185,000 for the building and contents.
“BHA Southside is an entity associated with White Hat,” said Atty. Amy Goodson of Cuyahoga Falls, who represents the Southside Academy board.
She said the current Southside Academy board has nothing to do with the receivership.
“The management company we contract with is trying to procure it so it can continue to provide services,” Goodson said.
The management company handles day-to-day operations of the school while the board sets policy.
“It’s [BHS Southside] a separate entity but does fall under the White Hat umbrella or it’s an affiliate,” Goodson said.
White Hat representatives couldn’t be reached.
Money from the sale of the former Eagle Heights Academy, after liens and associated costs are paid, will be used to pay teachers and staff what they are owed, the receiver has said.