Council hires innovative consulting firm for help on high school
Published in The Islander News May 8, 2008
kjosephsen@islanderews.com
A consulting firm renowned for its innovative, outside-the-box thinking will help Village officials sift through their options for creating a municipal charter high school on the Key.
Members of the committee that reviewed bids and recommended the firm of Fielding Nair International said those qualities are exactly what the Village needs — because a high school in Key Biscayne would have to be anything but traditional, as the island lacks space for a typical "bricks and mortar" facility.
Committee member Charles Viscito noted, "Fielding Nair's proposal was exceptional — it really took it to a different level in terms of what we need to look at as a community.
"There's not ample space here to put up a school. If we think of a school as a building, we're not going to be able to put a 40,000-square-foot building in our community. We need to find a unique model."
The Village Council agreed Wednesday, April 30, approving the pick after addressing some concerns. First, they questioned the cost of the contract, an estimated $104,000 pending final negotiations. Also, they want to be sure the firm covers their "nuts and bolts" questions about municipal charter schools, which are public schools linked to and often supported by the municipality in which they are located.
Village Manager Chip Iglesias assured the Council it will have final say on the contract. He plans to bring the agreement to the board for approval at its next meeting Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in Village Hall.
Regarding the cost, the Council has $200,000 set aside for "educational initiatives," but the $104,000 figure raised eyebrows. Vice Mayor Jorge Mendia noted previous estimates were $30,000-$40,000.
Meanwhile, Council member Steve Liedman wanted to be sure the $104,000 investment would give a clear picture of other costs associated with a school. "I don't want to be $400,000 or $500,000 down the pipe when I find out the actual nuts and bolts and what this thing would actually cost us," he noted.
Liedman said cost figures for facilities, construction, operation, etc. are all paramount. "The concept is wonderful, but we've gotta figure out what it will cost the community," he said. "That's a significant aspect of how we move forward, and I hope it's a significant part of this process."
Building, Zoning and Planning Director Jud Kurlancheek, who was on the selection committee, assured him it is. Kurlancheek noted the Request For Proposals to which Fielding Nair and two other firms responded included those questions, so the consultant has to address them as part of its scope of work.
"The proposal we received from Fielding Nair was a much more comprehensive approach," he told the Council. "It went far beyond what the RFP asked for. They responded to the RFP — plus."
Kurlancheek added he is very comfortable with Fielding Nair's experience and qualifications, but said he will do additional research on the firm before the Council approves a contract.
Those remarks were joined by plaudits from Viscito and fellow Key Biscayner Angel Martin, who did not serve on the selection committee but is involved in the grassroots push for a local high school.
Viscito said he likes Fielding Nair's nontraditional approach because he feels it's exactly what the Key needs. He explained creating a high school on the island demands the consideration of using or sharing existing facilities, and, "This is what Fielding Nair's approach does."
Viscito also pointed to Fielding Nair's plans for an extensive public process. The firm will be required to make at least two presentations to the public and two presentations to the Council, and will use input from a series of workshops and other outreach efforts to clarify the Village's facility needs and determine "how much to push the envelope in terms of facilities," as Viscito put it. "That's the discussion we have to have as a community," he remarked.
Martin agreed, terming Fielding Nair a "world-class firm" and telling the Council, "We need to look at this as a significant opportunity for looking at what the issues are and engaging the community." Martin added he's pleased Fielding Nair will put the focus firmly on a Village-based solution. Past talks focused on City of Miami-owned land on Virginia Key as a site for a public high school, he said, but the Village must control its own destiny by finding a solution with its own resources.
"I think we need to put Virginia Key to rest," he said, noting that in a recent meeting with local parents, Miami-Dade County School Board Chairman Agustin Barrera used the words "not in our lifetime" when referring to whether a public high school would be built on the neighboring island. By working with Fielding Nair, Martin said, Key Biscayne can enhance education and quality of life on its own terms, without relying on an outside government. Of course, the consultant's work is just the first step in getting to that point.
"This is sort of a baby step that you all took," Iglesias said. "This only takes us so far. I want to be very clear about that."
He stressed Fielding Nair will clarify the Village's options, then the Council will have decisions to make.
Hence, officials decided not to move forward with Council member Pat Weinman's request to have Fielding Nair file an application with the state to create a charter school. They said they don't want to deal with the application process until they know what direction they'll take regarding the school.
"What we have to establish first is, `What kind of school do we want?"' said Council member Michael Davey. "I agree we need to know the nuts and bolts before we can do this."
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