Charter school application will be filed

Published in The Islander News May July 31, 2008
CHARLOTTE MILLER.  cmiller@islandernews.com

After weeks of intense research, countless meetings and untold hours of preparation, the Charter School Application Committee received unanimous approval from the Village Council to file the Charter School application.

 The application will be filed with Miami-Dade County Public Schools Specialized Programs —Charter School Operations, and Florida Schools of Excellence Commission by the August 1 deadline.

A special Council meeting was held July 22 to approve the application.

Support for Key Biscayne Charter High School has been strong since the idea was brought before Council. During public comments, many residents have stood and voiced the potential benefits to the community and its children.

Supporters continued to speak out in favor during the special meeting. Charles Viscito told Council members filing the appli­cation "makes all the sense in the world right now." Viscito noted as a regular attendee at Miami-Dade School Board meetings, he sees the school board pulling back funding for secondary education, making the development of a Key Biscayne Charter School all the more crucial.  "We've been willing to subsidize athletics; we've been willing to subsidize the Community Center. At some point, we should be willing to subsidize the school," said Viscito.

Julio Aldecocea told Council members, "I think it's crazy that our children have to go off the Key to go to school," he said, noting he sees overcrowding every day in Coral Gables High where Key Biscayne students from 9th-12th grade go if they don't attend a private school. Fire-Rescue and Police, departments are needs and that is why they are on Key Biscayne, he said. "Education is a need, too," he said.

Aldecocea reminded Council members graduating eighth graders will soon be 16, obtaining their driver's licenses and driving into the city to attend school. "It's better to have our kids here," he said. "It may not be the easiest thing," said Aldecocea, "but it is the right thing. Any urban planner will tell you, you need to have a spot for education."

Beatriz Rocha urged the Council to vote yes on the application. As a mother of three daughters, she said, "I think we need a high school on Key Biscayne. It will be part of the community and everyone will benefit."

While comments at the special meeting and those previous have been mostly posi­tive, the naysayers are emerging. Resident Camille Guething has been an outspoken opponent since the idea was first brought to the Council.

"I've been praying that we face the prob­lems and the money involved of filing this application. I have children and I have grandchildren, but I don't expect other peo­ple to pay for their education." she said. "I know there are 1, lot of people who want their children to be educated on the Key, but I don't think that is our responsibility."

Another opposing voice has been added.

Arthur Levey said he finds it "outrageous" that people demand a subsidy to meet their needs. "If it is so important that your children avoid a commute, buy a place in Miami," said Levey. Levey said he thinks it is appropriate that in lieu of all taxpayers paying to file the application, that those who directly benefit from the school project subsidize its cost. "If it's the right thing to do, it's the right thing to reach into your own pocket," he said. "Don't make others bear what you are unwilling to bear."

Levey told Council members they should attach a 'private donor' clause to the applica­tion so capital expenses will be financed by private investors. Levey said it is more important for the viability of Key Biscayne that "finances stay in shape, that our debt is retired and taxes are lowered.

"Freshman class in 2009?

The application committee, headed by Leo Brito, took on an enormous task and brought it to a successful completion. This same group is willing to continue its efforts to create a Key Biscayne Charter High School. The consultants hired by the Village are also optimistic a 2009 opening is feasible.

Yet, while all Council members voted in favor of the filing the application, nearly all voiced doubt about having the Charter School open in time for the first freshman to attend in 2009.

Mayor Robert Vernon said, "Just because we approved this application, don't assume there will be a high school on Key Biscayne in 2009. There is a load of questions that need to be answered.

Council member Thomas Thornton agreed by saying, "I am uncomfortable having the perception in the community that this is a done deal." Should the Miami-Dade School Board approve the application, much more work will need to be done. But with November elections looming, a possible change in Council personnel, budget meetings, etc., Charter School workshop scheduling will be tight.

Angel Martin, as chair of the High School Stakeholders Group and the Key Biscayne Education Foundation, sent Vernon a letter after the meeting thanking him for his affirmative vote. In it, he said he understood the Council's concern about starting a school in 2009.

"Although diligent in our pursuit of establishing the school, I will not pursue an unrealistic goal..." the letter reads. "We will jointly follow the process and determine the feasibility of the date, making determinations and date adjustments as we move along. The ultimate goal is to have one of the best public schools in the country that the majority of our community feels proud of.”

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