The Alabama Public Charter School Commission has decided to reject Dothan’s first charter school in a unanimous vote of 8-0 during a meeting on Monday morning. The Barnabas School of Leadership, which was planned to open in 2023 at Greater Beulah Baptist Church, faced a setback when a legal dispute between the founder, Pastor Darryl Roberts, and the church congregation led to his resignation.
Following the dispute, the charter commission had a 30-day window to determine whether to delay the charter school’s opening to August 2025 or revoke the charter due to contract breaches.
Pastor Darryl Roberts mentioned in March to WDHN that the school encountered challenges, including the sudden departure of the principal and financial difficulties. Two board members chose to abstain from voting on the matter. Stay tuned with WDHN for any further updates on this situation.