Divided board votes to make new middle school 'fundamental'

LARGO -- Despite concerns that many parents don't want a fundamental school, the Pinellas County School Board decided to make the new Thurgood Marshall Middle School into one.

Board members hope the move will attract both black and white families.

However, critics pointed to surveys that showed parents preferred a math and science magnet school and other themes. They questioned whether low-income and single-parent families would be able to meet the parent-involvement requirements at a fundamental school.

"The African-American community is not asking for this fundamental school," said board member Linda Lerner.

But five of the seven board members agreed the fundamental school concept would be a strong draw and would appeal to African-American and white students alike.

"This is what families want," said board member Nancy Bostock. "Fundamental schools have proven success, increased parental involvement and higher test scores. As long as we have children on waiting lists (for fundamental schools), I'll support more fundamental schools."

As the school district moves toward a school choice model where schools will have to market themselves as they attempt to draw a racially mixed group of students, board members are faced with the task of essentially defining the identity and themes for new schools.

Board members unanimously agreed to make the new James Sanderlin Elementary School a "Primary Years International Baccalaureate" school, and to give the new Doug Jamerson Elementary School a math and engineering theme.

But they were divided on the fundamental school issue. Two board members -- Lerner and Jane Gallucci -- voted to reject the recommendation from superintendent Howard Hinesley.

"Why bother spending the money on the survey if we're not going to use the data?" asked Gallucci. "The survey tells us what parents want."

Last year when the district was creating its choice plan, surveys were sent home to parents asking them what kinds of schools they would choose for their child. In many cases, parents chose math or science or technology before the fundamental school theme.

"We have the surveys; we know what parents want," said Pat Scarberry, chair of the district monitoring and advisory committee, which voted against establishing the school as a fundamental. "They didn't choose fundamental."

The idea behind the choice plan is that if schools define themselves by "attractors," parents will willingly choose to travel across town for their children to attend the school. That way the district would not have to compel children to take long bus rides to distant schools to maintain racial balance at schools -- a strategy employed under the district's desegregation plan for three decades.

Hinesley decided to recommend the fundamental school theme for the new Thurgood Marshall Middle because he felt the track record of such schools shows that demand is high. "This has the best opportunity to have 1,000 students from the get-go," Hinesley said.

And a majority of the board members agreed that a racially diverse group of parents would be interested.

In other action Tuesday:

Board members delayed a final decision about a possible reconfiguration of the site plan for the new Gibbs High School, until they know whether it is necessary.

Board members agreed to leave school starting and ending times unchanged. That means high schools will continue to start at 7:20 a.m. and middle schools at 9:40 a.m. Elementary schools have various starting times.

Board members formally appointed and welcomed the new campus police chief, Thomas A. Gavin, who has 26 years of experience in law enforcement, including 10 years with the St. Petersburg Police Department, and who taught at the Pinellas Park High School Criminal Justice Academy.

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