Summary of March 24, 2009, Council meeting

 See video segments of meeting at the bottom of this page.

We were very much disappointed at the abrupt shift in Council’s discussions related to the High School initiative during the March 24 Council meeting. The motion presented by Council member Mike Kelly “The role of the government of Key Biscayne is that of non involvement in the creation or administration of a municipal charter high school” was an outrageous demonstration of indifference against the reality of the demographic changes that have occurred in this community and the impacts that secondary education has on a large segment of our population. It was uninspiring, unmoving and inconsiderate to the significant number of children, families and public education advocates within our community at large.

Although council member Kelly’s motion failed to pass, statements from a number of long-standing residents, organized and coached to speak at the Council meeting against the school initiative, demonstrated their nostalgia for what Key Biscayne once was, while being insensitive and apathetic for the Key Biscayne of today and its future.

The request of some council and ex-council members for the school advocates to pursue a regular charter school, without involving the municipality, demonstrates a lack of understanding of the issue at heart. Very simply, a municipal charter school would be for the children of our community, while a regular charter school would be for the children of the entire Miami-Dade County, with admission determined by lottery without our children having any preference. Why would any resident support the establishment of a school within the boundaries of our Village to serve Miami-Dade County?

Another suggestion from the opposition was for the school advocates to work with Miami-Dade school district to solve our school deficiency, which demonstrates ignorance on how our Miami-Dade County and big government operates. Autonomy is at the heart of our community, and what has transformed our Village into the gem we all now enjoy. Why wouldn’t we seek autonomy from a large, bureaucratic and unresponsive school district and get money back from the taxes we pay each year to operate the school?

It was also disturbing to listen to five ex-council members, representing the past status quo of Key Biscayne, and decrying proposed school. Particularly as these same people failed to acknowledge the shift in our demographics towards a much younger population when they were in leadership positions. While these ex-council members should be applauded for their past service to our community, they obviously do not represent the community's best interests of today or tomorrow.

Most of the ex-council members speaking at the meeting, and the vocal minority opposing the school, attempt to suggest that education is a priority, but our government, our community and our rights to obtain our autonomy from a failing school district should not be part of the solution impacting over 3,4000 children, their families and supporters of high-quality public education.

If you missed the meeting, you can browse and watch selected brief segments of the highlights at the calendar section of our web site www.hs4kb.com and form your own opinion.

For over one year we have analyzed the pros and cons of a municipal charter school. Granted, we do not have all the details needed to open a school within the next few months, but we have enough information to elaborate a transparent plan for the community to learn from factual information and formulate an informed decision of moving forward with the project. The 3,400 children of our community, not mentioned just once by opponents of the school initiative, deserve the choice of attending a quality school in their own community.

We know we can establish a self-funded and high quality college preparatory school. Perhaps one of the best public schools in the country that can prepare our children for higher education and life. The “world-class” label has many interpretations and, for many, a rigorous college preparatory program with selective AP, Dual enrollment and perhaps IB programs would be considered world-class. For others, the vision of a “world class” school may be a Gulliver or a Ransom type of private school. The proposed public high school does not intend to compete with these $25,000 plus per year tuition private high schools and offer the breadth of electives these schools may offer. However, the proposed school will be high-quality school and very much worthy of Key Biscayne.

We also know there is space available in our community. Over time, we have proposed several alternatives, including 530 Crandon Blvd., the underutilized second floor of the Village Hall and / or the parking lot behind the Village Hall. Each one of these locations presents advantages and disadvantages, with the option of the parking lot at the Village Hall being the most appropriate. And we know construction costs would be in the $7M range, which would mean a tax liability of less than $50 per year to a $500,000 assessed value property.

As a multi-purpose facility, we also know the school would allow the implementation of a lifelong learning center by offering after school intergenerational, educational and recreational programs benefiting the community at large.

We are very sensitive to the difficult economic times we are going through, and to the possibility our Village’s budget may be impacted by lower property market values. However, this project is not another expenditure or subsidy our Village is already incurring but a small investment in the most worthy cause that would bring significant benefits to the fiber of our community, including tangible financial paybacks to the great majority of residents.

As the next steps, school advocates will continue to work in developing over the next few weeks the educational, curriculum and business plans, and invite the community at large to participate in the process. Once the plan is brought up to the next level, and some detailed questions are further clarified, advocates will inform the community and Council to ensure that an educated opinion can be formed by all interested parties.

We would expect for our Village Council to be open to a dialogue and to send the initiative to the community for a vote.

Our children and the community at large deserve a transparent and democratic process.

Key Biscayne Charter High School
Steering Group
www.hs4kb.com

Meeting highlights - Video Segments (YouTube)

(Click on each link to watch a specific segment of the meeting)

Angel Martin addresses Council and opponents encouraging them to work together.

Betty Sime, long-standing resident and ex council member, addresses Council opposing proposed school

Mayor Bob Vernon recommendations as to the next steps on proposed school.

Chris Blackman addresses Council on proposed facilities and tax impact.

Charles Viscito addresses Council encouraging the appointment of already Established Advisory Board.

Clifford Brody, long-standing resident and ex-Vice Mayor, addresses Council encouraging them not to be involved in school planning.

Councilmember Enrique Garcia presents his position opposing proposed school initiative. Introduction by Vice-Mayor Michael Davey.

Gretchen Clark addresses Council on the advances of the Educational Task Force.

Martha Broucek, long-standing resident and ex-council member, addresses Council on proposed school

Councilmember Mike Kelly presents motion for Council to abstain from moving forward with proposed school.

Morton Fried, long-standing resident and ex-council member, addresses Council opposing proposed school.

Steve Liedman, resident and ex-council member, addresses Council on proposed municipal charter school.

Additional residents address Council - video segments (YouTube)

Camille Guething, long-standing resident, addresses Council opposing proposed school.

Cecile Sanches, long-standing resident, addresses Council opposing proposed school.

Ed London, resident, addresses Council in support of the school and describes Miami-Dade school challenges.

Ed Sanches, long-standing resident, addresses Council opposing proposed school.

Gwen Wurm, resident, addresses Council in support of the school and describes schools deficiency.

Jacqueline Kleis, resident, addresses Council in support of the school and describes schools deficiency.

Kathy Farias, resident, addresses Council opposing proposed school.

Margaret Crystal, long-standing resident, addresses Council in support of proposed school.

Robert Duzoglou, resident, addresses Council in support of the school.