As a place of learning for all generations, the school and lifelong learning center will connect Key Biscayne in many ways, and bring tangible benefits – civic, cultural, social and economic – to all residents and businesses.
Benefits (Click on each link for expanded details)
Entire community and residents. Lifelong learning opportunities, increased quality of life, property values and community cohesiveness No increase in taxes.
Parents with children under high school age. A world-class college preparatory school in the community, planned to meet the needs of the community and operated with parents' and community's involvement.
Retail business. Expanded customer base with more disposable income. A more sustainable business environment.
Real Estate. Increased appreciation and demand for properties.
Benefits to the entire community and residents
The "health" of our society is reliant upon the social, physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual well-being of each individual it is made up of. Our proposed school will enable:
Lifelong learning opportunities for residents of all ages. 365 days a year.
Expanded recreational and cultural spaces complementing existing Community Center.
Civic minded students engaged and supporting the community in which they live and get their education, encouraging a safer community. Read more here.
Mentorship opportunities for adults. Closing an intergenerational gap presently dividing our community.
Service-learning programs, with children working on solving real community issues and giving back to their community.
Increase in real estate property values, estimated by scientific reports to be at least 10% appreciation.
If you are an adult resident without children under high school age, a "snow bird" or a retired person ....
... think about lifelong learning, mentoring and socializing opportunities, as well as community service programs the children will perform. A safer environment, as civic manners and a community spirit will be encouraged by the school.
It is true that children and senior adults are unique individuals. However, when united in continued interaction, they learn to cope and compensate as they face similar challenges at different life stages. The outcome of intergenerational programs is ultimately self-confidence, which becomes the foundation of ongoing personal/social development for both children and senior adults.
- You can expect a more stable and safer community, as children will feel connected to and engaged in their own community and in an environment encouraging civic education and Positive Youth Development that will benefit the community. Read more here.
Watch this sample video of students working with their communities and adults.
- Community cohesiveness, with civic minded youth, participating in Service Learning projects benefiting the entire community, particularly adults. Watch this sample video of students working with and serving their communities.
- More respectful children, as adults supporting education are respecting their future.
You may also be interested in learning more about how you can benefit in our community schools section.
If you are a parent with children under high school age ....
... your children will have the opportunity of attending a world-class high school, right here, in their own community.
You can easily participate in the school activities, and closely follow your children's development.
Your children will not have to spend an average of at least 2 hours a day commuting to and from school and will be able to spend that extra time focusing on more relevant matters.
Your child will have more social activities within the community and therefore you, as a parent, will spend less time driving them to activities off of the island.
You will have the option to save at least $20,000 per child per year in private school tuition.
Proposed school should become one of the best schools in the country, providing an accredited, rigorous and nationally recognized program complemented with 21st century skills. Very likely a place you will seriously consider for educating your children.
In addition, a school within our community would offer the possibility of educating your child within a family-school-community context. This context facilitates a social and emotional learning environment not found in schools outside the child's community. It also provides a setting that fulfills the basic conditions for learning and being civic minded and responsible citizens in today's complex world. Read more here.
However, if you still decide to send your children out of the island, they will also benefit of the afterschool programs that will keep them connected to their community.
And, who knows, you may change your mind once you get to see the success of the school.
If you operate a retail business in Key Biscayne ...
... think about the millions of dollars spent at stores off of the island each year as parents schedule their shopping trips around drop off and pick up times at off of the island schools.
At capacity, the school will expand the customer base by 400 students and their families with less of a need to leave the island.
See additional details on benefits to business here.
If you invest in real estate business, or are a realtor ...
Real Estate businesses will significantly benefit as the school will increase value and demand for Key Biscayne properties the moment the project is approved, and will revitalize the dormant real estate market.
New real estate property buyers, including childless buyers, will be willing to pay more for a higher quality of life in a healthier community. According to USA Today, "only one-third of households have school-age children in the US. yet, 80% of house hunters strongly consider schools" - (looking for safer and enriched communities with high standards).
