Roseburg School Board to decide the future of Phoenix Charter School sponsorship

ROSEBURG, Ore. — The future of Phoenix Charter School's sponsorship is on the line as Roseburg Public Schools (RPS) decides whether or not to renew.

The Charter School works with students from all walks of life to graduate including students experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse, and disabilities that may provide challenges in a standard classroom environment.

The sponsorship allows the Charter School to receive funding and guidance from the school district that can directly impact students by providing resources, tech upgrades, and specialized programs that help meet the needs of the students.

Without the sponsorship, Phoenix Charter School may face closure, making all 135 students find alternatives to get their education; something that School Principal Corrie Bernard said will make the student's lives even harder when dealing with a full public or online school.

"I know some of these students are the ones that are going to blow out of class," Bernard said. "They're going to be written up all the time. They're going to be expelled but I also know they're not going to be successful online so I'm very afraid of my students not being able to graduate."

Along with Bernard, several of the teachers at the school only have the students on their minds if the renewal does not go through.

"I really just think about my students and I hope they have the options that they're looking for next year," said Botany & Art Teacher Athena Lawson. "I don't want them to go back to a school they weren't comfortable at because I think Phoenix is a good fit for them."

The current five-year contract between RPS and Phoenix Charter School is set to expire on June 30, 2025.

The District uses different statistics to look at the success of the school including attendance, academic achievement, and students on track to graduate.

Despite the attendance and graduation rate statistics, Bernard said that Phoenix may not be meeting standards set for the school but are on an uphill run to improve those statistics since 2024.

"We have a lot of room for growth. We also have not met some expectations but we are showing improvement this year. I hope that the school board sees that and is willing to invest in me and my teachers and our students to give us more of an opportunity

The Roseburg School Board is expected to hold a vote on whether to renew sponsorship at its May 14 meeting.

Residents are still encouraged to submit letters to the School Board regarding the fate of Phoenix Charter School.

You can find all of the Roseburg School Board members on the RPS website here.