Troubled Cape Coral charter school to open in August with a new name

Unity Charter, the school that closed its door on students in the middle of the school year and was in deep financial trouble, has a new name.

Off busy Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral, a once troubled charter school, Unity Charter, now is called Heritage Charter Academy of Cape Coral

“We are in near-daily contact,” said Rob Spicker, School District of Lee County spokesperson, “if not daily contact.”

The School District of Lee County said they are keeping a watchful eye on the school. It is to make sure its previous financial problems do not happen again.

“If it’s not daily, it’s almost every day that we are talking with the administrators at that school,” Spicker said, “to make sure that they are on track with their corrective action plan.”

Unity Charter School shut down abruptly for one day last year, leaving some parents stranded. Then, weeks later, in severe financial trouble, the building was auctioned off the day after Christmas.

With the new name comes a new management company. Choice Charter Schools told WINK News in part in an email that it is aware of the issues that have plagued the school in the past.

The company said it had secured a long term lease and adequate funding. It has cleaned up the property, updated safety items and is working with staff to create an “ideal learning environment.”

Also, most of the staff members, including the principal, will remain next year. But the school board has been replaced. Right now, only 74 students will return in August.

The school district is staying in constant contact, making sure its standards do not fall again.

“They have certain standards that they have to meet with us,” Spicker said. “If they’re not meeting those standards, then we have actions that we can take with them.”