Charter high school could have positive impact to local taxpayers
Islander News, February 21, 2008
By Kelly Josephsen. kjosephsen@islandernews.com
The High School for Key Biscayne Stakeholders Group clearly got the Village Council's attention last month with its concept of bringing a municipal charter school to the island.
Council members agreed to pay a consultant to study the idea, and work with the Stakeholders Group to hire that consultant and brainstorm possible sites for the school.
However, local leaders also acknowledged they have a lot of questions about municipal charter schools and how one would work in the Village. As Mayor Robert Vernon told The Islander Pews, the idea is one most Council members have little experience with: "We've got to do all our homework and see if it's feasible, but we're going to pursue it. We'll get all the facts and see where it goes from there."
As the fact-finding gets rolling, the Stakeholders Group continues to use its website, www.hs4kb.com, to provide information on municipal charter schools.
Some of the Frequently Asked Questions addressed on the site include:
Question : What is a municipal charter school?
Answer — It is a state-funded public school organized and/or sponsored by the municipality in which it is located. In Key Biscayne, it would operate under a performance contract or charter with the Florida Department of Education and/or Miami-Dade County School Board.
Q: What is the impact on local taxpayers?
A: A portion of the federal, state and local funds that taxpayers now pay to the School District could be diverted directly to Key Biscayne to operate the school. Municipal charter schools can also accept money from private enterprises and use it in the best interests of students and faculty.
Q: Who could attend the school?
A: It would be open to any student residing in Miami-Dade County, with preference given to residents of Key Biscayne, siblings of current students and possibly children of school employees. Municipal charter schools cannot discriminate or limit enrollment based on race, religion or disability. Curriculum could be designed to serve students in kindergarten through senior year of high school.
Q: In terms of accountability, how are municipal charter schools different from public schools?
A: Charter schools don't have to follow some of the bureaucratic rules and regulations that govern traditional public schools, but are held accountable to academic and financial performance benchmarks. Also, because of their autonomy, they can develop programs to meet specific needs of their students.
Q: What role would the Village play in this accountability?
A: That would be decided between the operators of the school and Village. The contract between a municipal charter school's governing board and sponsor, in this case the Village, details the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment and ways to measure success.
Q: Who is involved in the organization and operation of the school?
A: Normally, community leaders, parents and elected officials all play a role. The roles of each party are typically outlined in the school's contract, but the emerging model appears to be one in which the municipality establishes a Department of Education in which the department head — often the school's principal — reports directly to the municipality's Manager.
Municipal charter schools can be operated solely by the municipality, or the municipality can obtain services from management companies that specialize in establishing educational philosophy and design, curriculum, assessment methods, etc.; and in handling administrative, compliance and business duties.
Q: Would the Miami-Dade School District play a role?
A: The School District would likely provide certain administrative and educational services based on a negotiated fee. These might include processing of teacher certifications, handling state- or district-required student assessments, contract management and student reporting services.
Q: What type of curriculum is offered?
A: Municipal charter schools can offer a specialized curriculum, core academic program, early intervention programs, programs for exceptional students, etc. Again, details would emerge in the contract.
Q: Are there other nearby examples of municipal charter schools?
A: Florida is one of the most active states in implementing the schools. Miami Shores, Aventura, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Cape Coral and other cities all have such institutions. Village Manager Chip Iglesias is talking with officials from some of those cities to learn from their experiences.
Q: How are the schools working in those communities?
A: Studies show the communities have created small, local schools where family and community play an integral role. School principals have expressed a sense of belonging to the community, and also spoke about sharing facilities, resources and staff with the greater community.
Q: Are there other potential benefits?
A: The school would reflect the needs of the community. Education decisions would be made from within the Village by government officials, community leaders and educators, allowing the administration to easily respond to new trends and requirements without the constraints of the School District.
Local officials could set a curriculum that exceeds competitive standards. That would give families that currently pay for off-island private schools a chance to take their kids to a safe, local public school.
Finally, the school could be designed as a mixed-use facility that serves the general population as well as students. Organizers see it as an extension to the Community Center, opening up the possibility of providing all residents with programs and services not currently available in Key Biscayne.
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