SCF charter school moves forward

BRADENTON – A plan to build a charter school at State College of Florida advanced Monday night.

The Manatee County School Board voted 5-0 to approve SCF’s charter school application, and negotiations will begin on a contract for the school.

Board attorney John Bowen allayed concerns that there might be ethical issues in that two of the board members are employees of SCF. He said he found a Commission on Ethics ruling in December 2009 in a similar situation in Lee County, and even though the commission found no conflict, the board members there decided to abstain.

He checked with the commission, he said, and the board members, chairwoman Jane Pfeilsticker and board member Harry Kinnan, do not have to abstain.

”You do not need to abstain, you do not need to not participate in the discussion,“ Bowen said. ”There is no conflict.“

In the initial meetings with parents, there had been concerns raised about middle school students being exposed to the community college’s environment, and SCF officials had tried to assure parents that the children would be separated from the college. School Board members had expressed similar concerns, but all five said they were satisfied that the children would be safe on the campus.

”You told me the building will be isolated, and that's good,“ board member Barbara Harvey told an SCF official at the meeting. ”But the students you are getting are kids we handle with kid gloves.“

The focus on children whose parents have not graduated from college is good, she added. ”Our goal for these students is to see them graduate, and I want that to be your goal,“ Harvey said.

Walter Miller suggested that children who were not accepted into the Take Stock in Children program due to lack of funding might be ideal for the charter school.

Kinnan said that he did share the concern over the middle school children on the campus, and would really prefer a high school there. ”I think it's going to be a challenge,“ he said. ”No other charter has done this in the state of Florida. Having said that, I am somewhat assured that they know our concerns on this.“

Bob Gause shared a concern that Kinnan had about the program’s impact on dual enrollment and principals’ fears that a charter might attract their best students, but his bigger worry was that parents might see the charter as safer than a public school.

”The concern that I have is that we run the risk with the charter school movement of de facto segregation,“ Gause said. ”You'll see parents wanting to put their kids in the charters because they're worried about the public schools.“

He said it could be a model for other schools to follow, and noted that he agreed with Miller that the Take Stock in Children program might be a good source of students.

Finally, Pfeilsticker said she supported any program that could enhance dual enrollment. ”I share the concerns about middle school students, and have been assured that the middle schoolers will not be going out onto the campus,“ she added.

Other board decisions

The School Board also honored the coaches and players of the Manatee High School football team for their successful season and challenge for the championship.

Coach Joe Kinnan and his assistants took a bow, and Kinnan noted that they are in negotiations to play Dom Bosco Prep in New Jersey, the team that is now the No. 1 high school football team in the country since Manatee defeated St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale.

The members also heard an update on Haiti relief efforts, and McGonegal said that so far four Haitian students have registered for classes in Manatee County schools and more are expected. Their applications are going through a special process since many don't have the proper paperwork for admission.

The school calendar for 2010-11 was approved after discussion about how difficult it is to align vacations, FCATs and more. The district approved a calendar that aligns spring break with State College of Florida's spring break, meaning that things are easier for dual-enrollment students, Pfeilsticker said.

Consent agenda

The board approved the following items in the consent agenda:

• Approval of Renewal (2) on Fire Alarm Inspection and Repairs, MCSD No. 08-0042-MR - p.18
• Approval of Renewal (2) on Fumigation, MCSD No. 08-0047-MR - p.19
• Approval of Renewal (2) on Lift Station and Grease Trap Services, MCSD No. 080040-MR - p.20
• Approval of the Use of the School Board of Sarasota County Bid for Security System Installation, Repair, Parts and Consumable Supplies, MCSD No. 10-0041-MR - p.21
• Approval of Bid on Paper for Print Shop, MCSD No. 10-0022-BS - p.23
• Approval of Extension of Contract on Insurance Broker, Loss Control, and Property Appraisal Services, MCSD No. 07-0080-RH - p.24
• Approval of Memorandum of Agreement Between Wellsys Corporation and the School Board of Manatee County to Provide Evaluation Services for the 21st Century Grant - p.25
• Approval to Apply, Accept, and Expend the Boys & Girls Club Mentoring Services Grant Application for the 2009-2010 School Year - p.27
• Approval of Braden River Elementary School - Renovations - Substantial Completion - Buildings 5 and 8 - p.29
• Approval of Braden River Middle School - Repaint and Canopy Repairs - Substantial Completion - Phase 1 - p.30
• Approval of Haile Middle School - Chiller, Controls and HVAC Upgrades - Phase One - Amendment 2 - Agreement Between Owner and Manasota Commercial Construction Company, Inc. - Guaranteed Maximum Price - p.31
• Approval of Manatee Technical Institute - Amendment 6 - Caruso Road Campus - Agreement Between Owner and HCBeck, Ltd. - Partial Guaranteed Maximum Price - p.33
• Approval of Manatee Technical Institute - Amendment 15 - Agreement Between Owner and Fawley Bryant Architects, Inc. - p.35
• Approval of Palmetto Elementary School - 10th Street West - Permanent Florida Power and Light Utility Easement - p.37
• Approval of Palmetto Elementary School - 10th Street West - Permanent Utility Easements - p.38
• Approval of Palmetto High School - Additions and Renovations - Amendment 3 - Agreement Between Owner and Ranon and Partners, Inc. - p.39
• Approval of Palmetto High School - Additions and Renovations - Substantial Completion - Phase 2 Work: Construction Technology Building 35, Science Laboratory Building 36, Classroom Building 37 and Related Site Work - p.41
• Approval of Educational Facilities Impact Fee Refund Number 1 - Wisteria Park - p.43
• Approval of the Year to Date Financial Statements through September 2009 - p.44
• Approval of the Year to Date Financial Statements through October 2009 - p.46
• Approval of the Year to Date Financial Statements through November 2009 - p.48
• Approval of Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Check List for Collection via Automated Recovery Systems (ARS) - p.50
• Approval of the Appointments, Change of Assignments, Deceased, Promotions, Reappointments, Reassignments, Recommendations for Professional Service Contracts, Resignations, Retirements, Terminations and Transfers - p.51
• Approval of the Report of Teachers who are Out-of-Field in Their Subject Area(s) - p.52
• Approval of the Report of Teachers who are Out-Of-Field in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) - p.53
• Approval of the Revised Systems Engineer Job Description - p.54
• Approval of Recommended Order Rendered by the Administrative Law Judge in the Matter of MCSB v. Annette D. Dozier (MCSB Case No. 08-0009/DOAH Case No. 08-003880