By: Sharon Aron Baron
This is why the unpopular charter school deal may not be going any further.
According to City Manager Michael Cernech, the stipulation for getting the proposal for the charter school in front of the City Commission was to have Academica’s assurances that Tamarac students would receive first priority.
Academica has been told they need to come forward with assurances to us in writing that gives our kids – Tamarac kids, first choice of seats in this school and if they can’t do that then we’re not taking something forward to the city commission because that’s the premise of the proposal for choice for Tamarac students. So they’ve got to do that.” – City Manager Michael Cernech at a neighborhood meeting last Wednesday.
That ain’t happening according to State law. And there isn’t anything the School Board of Broward County can do about it.
Here are the rules according the Florida Department of Education:
“Charter schools are open to all students residing within the district; however, charter schools are allowed to target students within specific age groups or grade levels, students considered at-risk of dropping out or failing, students wishing to enroll in a charter school-in-the-workplace or charter school-in-a-municipality, students residing within a reasonable distance of the school”
The school can target students living 2-4 miles away according to the Broward County Charter Management Support Department, however, this is not a City preference, therefore excluding Tamarac students that live in central or eastern Tamarac.
Only cities like Coral Springs and Pembroke Pines which holds their own charter and are municipally run may offer first choice for those that live in their city. The City of Tamarac will not be a municipal charter school.
Oh, and did I mention that charter schools don’t provide bus service? So this means 1,200 kids being driven two times a day? That’s 2,400 more cars on the road on Nob Hill.
But don’t worry, it shouldn’t get this far because our city manager clearly states that they won’t be taking this forward if Academica doesn’t meet this requirement.