Gov. Deal to visit Utopian Academy on Thursday

Gov. Nathan Deal will visit Utopian Academy for the Arts on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

The Riverdale charter school opened its doors late last week after a lengthy three-year fight that climaxed in recent weeks over bureaucratic red tape. The school had tried unsuccessfully to get a charter through the Clayton school district but ended up getting approval through the state. It’s Aug. 4 opening was postponed more than a week while school officials tangled with Riverdale city officials over a series of issues that included licenses and the lease, which is held by the county school board. The school has about 200 sixth and seventh graders.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Deal declined to give details about his Thursday visit, saying his office would be issuing an advisory on Wednesday about the Utopian visit.