Gov. Deal to Utopian: ‘You’re trailblazers’

Utopian Academy for the Arts, the startup charter school that fought hard to open its doors in Clayton County, marked it first week of school with a visit from Gov. Nathan Deal, a leading proponent of charter schools.

“You’re trailblazers. You’re pioneers,” Deal told a packed audience in the school’s auditorium, noting that the Riverdale middle school was the only charter school out of 16 applications statewide to be approved this year. “It took some hard work to get to the opening of this school. Your school has been born out of a struggle and because of that your school will be stronger. This is your opportunity to show that this idea can work.”

Deal, who is running for re-election, visited the school on his way to a forum in Macon.