School overview
Pataula Charter Academy
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
Who runs Pataula Charter Academy?
Pataula Charter Academy is a free public charter school in Edison, in rural Calhoun County, Georgia, with about 564 students. It is not part of a county school district. It is chartered by the Georgia State Charter Schools Commission, which rates it each year on academic, financial and operational measures (the CPF). A volunteer nonprofit board, Pataula Charter Academy, Inc., makes decisions. Board members are chosen by the board itself, not elected by voters. The same leaders run Spring Creek Charter Academy in Bainbridge, which is becoming its own corporation.
Board picks its own members
In June 2026 the board renewed the terms of Lindsey Hixon (chair) and Ronnie Lane and kept its officers. Voters do not elect members.
State commission sets the bar
PCA met all three areas of its 2024-25 rating. Missed board training is expected to lower its 2025-26 operational score.
Shared with Spring Creek
The superintendent, CFO and most board members serve both schools. Since January 2026 each school has its own board meeting, held back-to-back.
Most decisions start in committees
The finance committee reviews spending before the full board. It moved to quarterly meetings in June 2026.
The board meets monthly, posts agendas and minutes online and almost always votes unanimously. Public comment is on every agenda, but none was recorded in the past year.
Where the district stands
Approved April 20, 2026.
Down from $39,633 in the first draft after state health premiums rose.
65 more on the waiting list.
PCA runs 7 bus routes.
Approximate cost.
Major projects
Central office move and possible property sale
planningThe board told administrators to plan a mostly remote, school-based central office and to look at selling the central office property.
- Planning approved; sale needs a final board vote
Funding
Not stated; a property sale could bring in money
Spring Creek separation and construction bond
in progressSpring Creek Charter Academy is becoming its own corporation so it can borrow through a bond for new buildings. PCA's CFO gets a $2,000 monthly stipend for 15 months during construction.
- Bond lawyers hired
- Dedicated board members named
- Assignment agreement approved
- CFO construction stipend approved
Funding
Construction bond issued through the Bainbridge-Decatur County development authority; CFO stipend from operating funds
EPD site stabilization plan
in progressAfter a land disturbance permit lapsed, the state ordered a $1,800 penalty and a landscape plan to stabilize the site, to be finished within 11 months of approval.
- Consent order reported; fence approved
Funding
$1,800 penalty from operating funds; $9,104.47 fence from a state safety grant
Buses, roof and bus shop
approvedTwo buses ($311,000), a new kitchen roof ($63,270, only bidder) and bus shop air conditioning ($6,942.78).
- Buses approved
- Bus shop HVAC approved
- Kitchen roof approved
Funding
General operating funds
Recent news
All 41 collected official documents from October 2025 to October 2026 on the board's BoardOnTrack public portal: agendas and approved minutes for 12 board meetings, finance committee and academic committee meetings, and the current cell phone and technology use policies. No meeting recordings or budget files are posted publicly.
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