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The new alternative school will be larger, and it will accept some students who face expulsion.
By BARBARA BEHRENDT, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 14, 2002
INVERNESS -- After years of debate over the Renaissance Center and its alternative programs, the School Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to increase the size of the new school and its programs, and provide a new service for students throughout the system who would otherwise be expelled.
Officials said the larger school could cost the district $5.7-million; staff for the new school, which is expected to open in three years, could add $400,000.
The school serves students who are disruptive and disinterested in their home middle and high schools. Some students also stay on at the Renaissance Center because they succeed in the small classes and specialized program at the center.
The capacity of the existing school is just over 100, but the school now has 86 students. The new school will hold between 225 and 250 students. Most of that increase will be students like the ones served now.
But there will also be 15 to 20 students who have had problems with nonviolent infractions such as first-time violations of the zero-tolerance policy against alcohol and drugs. Now, those students are expelled.
"We need to make sure we're not throwing these kids out in the street," said board member Carol Snyder, who has been pushing for an alternative to expulsion.
The district's construction budget includes just $3.4-million for the smaller Renaissance Center expansion project. Officials did not say where the additional dollars will be found.
While board members Pat Deutschman and Sandra "Sam" Himmel had expressed reservations before about the expansion, they seemed to have their questions answered by the detailed financial information provided by the staff. Deutschman noted that she was glad to see that the extra overhead cost would not be too bad.
"I don't mind funding the 250-student school if this board makes the commitment that we're going to adequately staff it," Himmel said.
Board member Patience Nave noted that the board has already showed that commitment by voting to add a guidance counselor there. Superintendent David Hickey noted later that, while he heard the board's opinion on that new position, he has not acted on it due to budgetary constraints.
Principal David Cook said Wednesday that going to the larger facility will enable the center to add vocational and other labs it doesn't currently have.
"I'm very excited about it," he said, noting that the new program will provide a chance for students to continue their education even if they've made a mistake.
Expulsions are an issue as the board had learned earlier in the day Tuesday. During a closed session, the board expelled 13 students, bringing the total for the year to 48.
The expulsions were: an eighth-grade male at Citrus Springs Middle School for violation of zero-tolerance rules; a sixth-grade male student at the same school for zero tolerance and school-related violent crime; an 11th-grade male at the Renaissance Center for zero tolerance and disruptive behavior; a ninth-grade male at the Withlacoochee Technical Institute for false/misleading information; a ninth-grade male at Citrus High School for zero tolerance; a 10th-grade male at Citrus High for false/misleading information; six Lecanto High School ninth-graders, one female and the rest male, for various zero tolerance and behavior offense including one who had possession of a weapon; and a 12th-grade male student at Lecanto High School for zero tolerance and possession of a weapon.
The board also expelled one eighth-grade male at Lecanto High School from the bus for the rest of the year for assault, disorderly conduct and insubordination.