Leaders of the MECCA Business Learning Institute, Montgomery County’s only charter school, urged Board of Education members not to close their school, stating at the Thursday meeting that they have acted in good faith and have responded to all the school district’s concerns.
During the work session, Superintendent Thomas Taylor, Ed.D., explained to board members why he sent the Gaithersburg school an order of noncompliance in November of 2025 and is recommending that the BOE shutter the school for sixth and seventh graders when the option comes to a vote at their Jan. 22 public meeting.
MECCA began the academic year with 186 students. It currently has 95. School leadership attributes that mostly to a change in location during the school year. The school has about 300 applications for enrollment in the 2026-27 academic year.
According to Montgomery County Public Schools, MECCA has failed to comply with special education laws. The school district also expressed concerns about transportation, financing, staffing and communications.
“[MECCA] has a history of noncompliance,” said Robyn Seabrook, chief of legal services at MCPS. She noted that the charter school was sent a letter asking for corrective action within 15 days. When MCPS did not receive a reply in that time frame, the superintendent called for the revocation of its charter, Seabrook said.
The sixth and seventh grade academic program, which has an emphasis on business education, allegedly failed to abide by the agreement it had with the school district and failed to abide by legal requirements, she said.
Margaret Cage, MCPS chief of specialized support system, said school district officials repeatedly offered guidance and support, especially in the area of special education and individual education programs.
Donna Redmond Jones, MCPS assistant superintendent, alleged that MECCA charter school leaders displayed “a pattern of last-minute decisions” and delays in submitting necessary information. Jones also alleged that some of the delays called for changes in transportation and teaching staff.
“All these changes hurt middle school students,” said Jones.
Principal Shiree Slade (photographed above) countered the allegations against MECCA. “Our students are making progress and gaining confidence.” She noted that it is difficult to start a new school “from the ground up,” and asked for more time to collaborate with MCPS.
The students “deserve the time to continue,” said Slade.
Other school officials countered that MCPS had expressed “only general concerns” that were not made specific until November, which did not give MECCA leadership much time to correct the issues.
The charter school submitted a corrective action plan for every concern, said school leaders. Many of the problems were not supported by facts within the school, they countered.
When school district officials cited issues concerning student transportation, MECCA officials said they made adjustments and do not plan to offer transportation to students during the next school year.
Princess Lyles, a marketing and communications consultant for the charter school, said its staff and teachers always put students and the school community first.
The school is a result of years of preparation, community input, fundraising and staff building, she countered. “The families put their trust in us,” said Lyles. “We acted in good faith.”
“At no point has MBLI refused to comply or reply,” said Lyles. She added that they “remain committed to working transparently with MCPS as our authorizer.”
Charter school leaders displayed a PowerPoint presentation with one slide entitled: “MBLI (MECCA Business Learning Institute) Seeks Fair & Clear Oversight.” Another was titled, “MCLI Seeks Due Process.” It was not made clear what the acronym “MCLI” stands for.
In addition, the PowerPoint display noted: “MBLI has responded in writing – every time. The district has escalated processes as if those responses and corrective actions did not exist.”
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