Charter school application consultants get Key Biscayne tour.
Published in The Islander News May June 26, 2008
CHARLOTTE MILLER. cmiller@islandernews.com
Members and supporters of the Key Biscayne Charter School Application Committee toured in and outside the Village limits recently showing two members of the group's consulting team ideas for possible school locations.
Director of Building, Zoning and Planning Jud Kurlancheek planned the tour of 24 potential lease or building sites.
Kurlancheek was quick to point out that no discussion has taken place with any of the principles of any of the properties regarding leasing or building options. The tour was to acquaint consultants Prakash Nair and Dan Argintaru of Fielding Nair International with the community's assets.
Among the sites visited were the Key Biscayne Beach Club, L'Esplanade Mall, Miami-Dade County Library, the Miami Rowing Club, MAST Academy. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, the Key Biscayne Community Church, the Community Center, Village Council Chambers and Village Hall.
The bus also drove by several formerly occupied business sites. including Stefano's, and several office buildings with adequate square footage to house classrooms.
Community involvement
Members of the ad hoc Charter school Application Committee, formed at the June 10 Village Council meeting and headed by Leo Brito, chair, and Kathleen Singer King, vice-chair, are committed to getting an application filed with the state by the August I deadline. Members are driven by fierce determination to keep their children within the community. through their high school years.
For committee member Maria F. Ordonez, mother of twin daughters entering the sixth grade, the notion of a Charter school directly affects her and her family. "Good education is most important to us," she said. Ordonez volunteers her time helping out by going to meetings, sending e-mails and doing whatever needs to be done. The best case scenario, she said, would he one where her children didn't have to go off the island to attend high school. "We like to be involved in educating the whole person." she said.
Maria del Carmen Mayoral agrees. Mayoral, a South Florida native, moved from South Miami to Key Biscayne so her voting children could attend a "smaller and better public school." Now. her children are getting older. Son Sebastian is 13 and just completed seventh grade. He will attend the Key Biscayne K8 Center in the fall. and Mayoral hopes Sebastian will be in the inaugural freshman class of Key Biscayne High School. Her other two children, Catalina. 12, and Nicolas 11. will following in succeeding years.
She is adamant about not sending Sebastian to ninth grade in Coral Gables high School, the assigned school for Key Biscayne students entering high school in the public school system. "Coral Gables is a 'C' school and it is very overcrowded." she said. The Florida State Department of Education has given Coral Gables a "C" for the last seven years. It is said to be at 130 percent capacity.
Most families who live on Key Biscayne send their young children to Key Biscayne K-8 Center. Student performance in the K-8 program is well above the rest of the state according to recent 2008 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores. The school has been consistent in maintaining high performance.
Angel Martin. one of the prime mover and shakers in championing the Charter School cause, is the father of two children, a 10year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl. "Junior high and high school aged children are most influenced by society." said Martin. "Children move out from the protective arms of their family. We don't want to have a school here to necessarily protect our Children, but to be given a choice.
In addition, said Martin. there are limited options for good private high schools given the large number of children in the corresponding age group. It is getting harder and harder to place a ninth grader regardless of the student's performance. There is simply no space," said Martin.
That, coupled with the long daily corn mute for students to obtain what he calls a sub-standard education, and lack of ability for community involvement with children attending high school off the Key, drives Martin to stay committed to the cause.
Martin has been praised publicly for first initiating the idea of a Charter school in Key Biscayne. "Because of Martin's" tenacity and initiative. the Village Council was called upon to investigate a Charter School. engage a consultant. negotiate contracts, and look at the application process," said supporter Charles Viscito. "He was the driving initiative to get this thing going."
Meetings ongoing
While site specificity is not a requirement for the application process. community members, consultants and committee members can be assured that there are ample availabilities in and around Key Biscayne for classroom space.
The committee has met with application consultants Lisa Mulhall. president, and Cynthia Kresbach. associate, from In REM Solutions to review a first draft of the application. Action items were identified to complete the application in time for presentation to the Village Council in July. The Village Council will hear a progress report at its June 24 regular Council meeting.
A Charter school application writing workshop hosted by Miami-Dade Public Schools was well-attended by committee members and community leaders. Committee member Maria Ordonez said the workshop was very helpful. "We learned step-by-step how to write the application.- she said.
Members of the Key Biscayne Charter School Application Committee and supporters took a bus tour of the Village and its outskirts recently showing two members of the group's consulting team, Prakish Nair and Daniel Argintaru, of Fielding Nair International, the many assets of Key Biscayne. Pictured from left are Maria del Carmen Mayoral, Gisela Franceschi, Philip Meagher, Kathy King, Prakish Nair, Maria Fernanda Ordonez, Michelle Manjarrez, Charles Viscito, Angel Martin, Jud Kurlancheek, Maria Thorne, Santiago Lostao and Daniel Argintaru. Driver Manny Ramos waves from the driver's seat.
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