TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. () – The only school on Tybee Island has no choice but to relocate, and, with few alternatives, some fear the school might have to leave the island entirely.

The Tybee Island Maritime Academy (TIMA) is a K-8 charter school, one that parents said has brought many families to the island.

“I think it would really diminish the community that we have here if the school had to leave,” Nancy DeVetter, a TIMA parent, said.

The school has to find a new location because its current lease with St. Michael’s church next door will not be renewed.

“Their mission is to serve Christ, and they’re not accomplishing their mission with the school here so they would like to have their facilities back,” Tybee Island Mayor Brian West, said.

DeVetter is one of many parents who are uncertain about the future of TIMA.
“Fortunately, the school’s been so successful that both St. Michael’s and the school and hopefully the city are working together to find an alternative solution,” she said.

The City of Tybee is trying to find a new location for TIMA, but they’re looking specifically for a place that’s still on the island.

“There’s definitely not a lot of options. The city would have Memorial Park as an option to explore. There’s some land that they just did an imminent domain on off of Solomon Avenue, and then also a failed development at the beginning of the island at Battery Park,” Jenny Rutherford, a Tybee Island real estate broker, said.

According to city officials, Memorial Park is their best prospect right now.

West said the city is bringing in a consulting form to see how they can build a “multi-use facility that has a Y and possibly a school and other community center type activities in it and fit in the park.”

A dedicated facility would be much different from the current set-up. Right now, the school’s campus is comprised of the church’s facilities and several module units that have been added to the campus over the years.

“The Chatham County School System has had a major impetus over the last ten years to upgrade all their facilities,” West said. “We need the same here.”

In the meantime, parents have put together a petition to preserve their kids’ school with over 1,000 signatures at the time of publication.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our kids to learn in a maritime environment. My kids go to the beach every week,” DeVetter said.

TIMA has two years before their lease with the church is up, but West said St. Michael’s is willing to work with the school until they can find a new, permanent home.