Escambia County Superintendent Tim Smith felt the Florida Board of Education’s heat Wednesday morning About the case of Warrington Middle School’s transformation.
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. expressed frustration that a contract with Charter Schools USA, which was expected to be secured by May 1, was not signed.
“Again, I’m upset. The level of frustration,” Diaz Jr. said. “I apologize, Mr. President, but all I hear are excuses and I can’t come to terms with that 10 years of failure for these students and all I hear are excuses from adults at this point.”
The Escambia School Board has faced several “sticking points” in negotiations after sending a new set of demands to the school district this month. One of the hardest stipulations for the board to swallow is to strip school districts of the new charter and open it to all K-12 students in the district.
“We want to come to an agreement,” Smith told the state assembly, “but it’s very difficult for us when we’re talking about retaining the middle school district, which is a key and crucial concept.” “Because otherwise, it’s like closing or becoming a traditional charter. That wasn’t what this (discussion) was for two years. That changed 15 days ago. That’s the conundrum we face. We love charter schools in the USA; we want Work with them. But we have to get an agreement, and that’s where we need help.”
Read the new terms causing the disruption:Lockdown returning to play at Warrington Middle School after terms of lease is causing major concerns
Listen to the full meeting here:https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/3-22-23-board-of-education-2/
Escambia Chairman Paul Fetsko said he would feel good about signing a contract with Charter Schools USA if they submitted an application outlining their plans for the school. Charter Schools USA has not submitted a formal application at this point.
However, the state board feels that the school board is not in a position to be picky, claiming that it is the children who struggle with their idle time.
“Now you’re asking them (Chartered Schools USA) to jump through a bureaucratic hoop to fill out an application? What’s the point of the application?” said Florida Board of Education Deputy Char Ryan Beatty. “I walked down the (Warrington) aisles, looking into the eyes of these children. I sat in the eighth grade maths class where the algebra books that should have been part of the teaching and learning of the day were shelved. I pointed them out to the commissioner as I sat and watched a teacher teach the students “8th grade, basic arithmetic. We’ve been failing these students for over a decade. What I’m not hearing from either of you is a sense of urgency. These kids deserve better. This school needs fixing. This forum is so impatient with the Escambia County School District.”
However, it is the welfare of these students that prevents the district from signing the contract. Charter School USA will have no obligation to accept current students into the school and their long-term plan is not to have a middle school but rather a K-12 school where Charter chooses which students attend.
“I don’t see another option that could be worse than what we have right now,” FDOE board member Esther Beard responded.
One option being considered by the community is to simply close the school and not offer it as a charter. If this is the case, the current students will be transferred to surrounding schools until the district reopens the school under a new name and new leadership.
A refresher on Warrington’s history:Warrington Middle School has a grade of “D”; It will be closed and reopened as a charter school
The school board’s intent is to reach an agreement with the charter company, Fetsko said, but a plan is in the works to transfer students to other schools in the area if an agreement is reached.
The bus ride will be about 15 to 20 minutes, Vitsko said, which isn’t ideal, but possible. However, they wish to find a way to make the agreement work.
Smith sought help from the State Assembly to reach an agreement, including the establishment of a school that would secure a place for Warrington’s children.
“I think my sense of urgency is actually fairly evident that I took measures to get something done by contacting our senator. This is (a) rather unorthodox path, but I needed to do something because my sense of urgency was alive and well.” Good,” Smith said. “So, we want this. We don’t argue, in fact, we don’t make any excuses. What we’re saying is we need to help move this agreement across the finish line.”
This issue may again be on the agenda of the May State Board of Education meeting for a follow-up presentation.