Regis Academy Charter School may have a new home. That is, if it receives the state Department of Education stamp of approval later this month.
The Cherry Hill School District announced last week that the DOE conducted its readiness walk-through inspection, one final step in the process for approval, at a location other that the one Solid Rock Worship Center currently leases.
Susan Bastnagel, the district’s public information officer, said the inspection occurred at 202 Park Boulevard in Cherry Hill, not at 99 Burnt Mill Road, the site of Pastor Amir Khan’s worship center.
Solid Rock was in a rent-to-own agreement with Holy Eucharist Parish.
This week, the parish filed a Warrant of Removal, said Peter Feuerherd, Director of Communications, Diocese of Camden.
“In general, it was a failure to pay and failure to live up to the agreement,” Feuerherd said.
Khan has failed to purchase the building in full past previous deadlines, Feuerherd said. The most recent agreement between the parish and Khan requested the property be paid in full by Jan. 3 of this year.
Bastnagel said DOE commissioner Christopher Cerf is expected to make a decision on July 16.
The school, originally set to open on the parish property, anticipated 78 students to attend from the four original sending school districts of Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Lawnside and Somerdale.
In addition, Regis Academy received approval to expand its reach to students from other municipalities. Another 187 students from other districts, including some from Lindenwold, Sicklerville and Camden, have also registered to attend Regis. Altogether, students from 21 other local districts applied to start at the charter school this fall.
Pastor Amir Khan could not yet be reached for comment.
The Regis Academy Board of Trustees is expected to meet on July 9.
Be sure to check back here for more information as it becomes available.
