Muskegon Heights charter school board: Mosaica to operate new district

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI – Mosaica Education, which operates charter schools in Michigan and other states, officially became the management company in charge of the new charter school system for Muskegon Heights schools.

The Muskegon Heights Public School Academy Board of Directors, meeting for the first time Monday afternoon, followed a recommendation by Emergency Manager Donald Weatherspoon to award a contract to Mosaica to operate the K-12 charter school system. Weatherspoon previously selected and gained state approval to form a charter school system in response to a financial emergency in the Muskegon Heights Public Schools.

Mosaica and the Leona Group, which operated the former TriValley Academy in Muskegon, were the two companies Weatherspoon said had expressed interest operating the charter district. A third withdrew its interest.

In Michigan, Mosaica operates charter schools in Alpena, Bay City, Flint and Pontiac.

Parents have the choice of sending their children to the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy, a different charter school in the area, a private school, or to a public school willing to accept transfer students. Officials have said Muskegon Public Schools appears to be the only district accepting transfers.

Emergency Manager Donald Weatherspoon said Mosaica was selected because of its curriculum, commitment to work within the community and a willingness to create a K-12 system.