As One District Charter School Closes, Another Opens

BRADENTON – At Monday's School Board meeting, the fate of one troubled charter school was sealed while a prospective all-boys academy was granted a charter school contract. Bradenton Charter School, more than 10 years into its contract, was given a troubling assessment by the district in 2007 and another of the same in 2012, failing in each review to show that its program is providing adequate educational practices to its pupils. Board members voted to not renew the school's charter contract.

Meanwhile, Visible Men Academy was granted a charter contract from the board during the meeting, and hopes to succeed where Bradenton Charter failed. Both decisions were passed unanimously by the board.

Dr. Verdya Bradey, the district's Associate Director of Innovative Programs & Parental Options, presented the board with reasons for supporting each school's respective rise and fall. For Bradenton Charter, she explained that charter schools have to go through a review process when they fail to complete educational standards as required by the state of Florida. Superintendent Mills recommended approval to non-renew. Board member Robert Gause remarked that "it appeared that the school did a good job with teacher-parent relationships," and lamented that they could not do such a job with their core educational program. 

On the other hand, Dr. Mills recommended approval of a charter contract for Visible Men, and board member Barbara Harvey said she was thrilled with the concept of the contract for the academy, and talked about the importance of "reaching" young men at an early age, "before they start to build prisons."

More information about the recommendation to not renew Bradenton Charter's contract can be found here; more information about Visible Men Academy's contract can be found here. Full agenda results of Monday's board meeting can be viewed here.