West Palm Beach, Fla., Closer to Creating Charter School

BRADENTON, Fla. - West Palm Beach, Fla., is closer to opening a controversial city-sponsored charter school.

After hearing mixed reviews on the plan Sept. 29, city commissioners voted to create a Municipal Charter School Agency with a nine-member governing board to exercise oversight of the facility.

The city plans to hire a firm to build and operate the school on city-owned land that would be rented to the charter school for $1 a year.

It is not clear yet if bonds might be issued to finance the school. The city is in the process of applying for a 15-year charter.

Some city commissioners, including Mayor Jeri Muoio, have criticized the Palm Beach County School Board for its operation of some public schools in the city because of low reading scores. The school board operates all public schools throughout the county, including its municipalities.

"The main thing we want to do is teach kids to read because that's been such a challenge," Muoio said, noting that the focus of the charter school will be on literacy.

West Palm Beach resident Phil Green said he did not believe the city had the expertise to be involved in such a project. "I'm concerned about what happens to children left behind in underfunded neighborhood [public] schools," he added.

Opening a municipal charter school "could just be the beginning of the tempest in the tea pot," Elayne Goodman, a member of the Palm Beach County League of Women Voters, told commissioners.

Goodman pleaded with city officials to reconsider establishing a charter school, and said it was another step toward siphoning off funds from traditional public schools.

Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell said the quality of public education has worsened, and creating a charter school is a solution to that problem.

"We aren't reinventing the wheel," Mitchell said. "I think one day you will come back and hug us for it."

The city is drafting a request for proposals for a charter school operator. The RFP reportedly is expected to be ready for commissioners to evaluate sometime in October. City officials also expect to meet with the county school board to discuss the charter school plan further.

Commissioners have said they do not intend to contribute any of the city's property tax funding to the school.

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