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Charter middle school opens doors
A first for the county, Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology gets started with 110 children and few hitches.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 28, 2003
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[Times photos: Kevin White]
Jacob Smith, 13, learns how to use his assigned computer for the first time Wednesday, the inaugural day for an inaugural school. Desks hadn't arrived; hence the boxes. Gulf Coast Academy lacked the necessary permits to open as late as Monday. It now has access to a $150,000 startup grant, and has received state funding.
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Math teacher Rick McGee, far left, gave students math questions on cards Wednesday. Each student was to ask another the question, then switch cards. Paired up are Chris Nazario, left, and Brandon Bodette, both 11, and Victoria Fischer, 11, with Olivia Gustafson, 10.
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SPRING HILL - Nevin Siefert stood outside the unmarked, drab metal building, sweating in his jacket and tie, as he greeted the caravan of cars that turned in to the parking lot.
He welcomed Jacob and Joel, Samantha and Stephanie.
"C'mon in. First day of school, buddy," Siefert said cheerily as one boy stepped out of his mother's SUV.
The day was momentous - not just because Siefert and business partner Joe Gatti had made it this far, despite their many doubters. And not just because parents were thrilled to return their bored children to the classroom.
Rather, Wednesday marked the day that public school choice came to Hernando County.
After a year battling local officials for the right to exist, Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology opened as the county's first and only charter school.
Charter schools, permitted by the state since the mid 1990s, are privately run public schools freed of most operating restrictions placed on mainstream public schools.
The families of 110 children took advantage of the new option; Siefert reported 100 percent attendance.
"I'm finally excited. School has started," Elena Helm said after dropping off her seventh-grade son, Vincent.
Vincent attended a private school last year, but the Helm family decided to try Gulf Coast Academy. It promises a similar education to the private school, Mrs. Helm said, but with less stringency and using the taxes she already pays.
She admitted to being worried that the middle school might not get off the ground, since Gulf Coast lacked the necessary permits as late as this week. But Mrs. Helms was pleased that her wait was rewarded.
"We watched the papers every day to see if there was news about the school," she said.
Eighth-graders Willy Holobinka and Jacob Wilson, who stood outside the science room door welcoming their classmates, said they were glad their new school had finally started.
"I'm excited. I just like school. . . . I like science and technology," said Willy, who arrived at the small campus before 5 a.m. The past few weeks were "really boring, because no one was around."
Jacob added that he looked forward to the school's weekly field trips, which are tied to the curriculum and also will serve as the physical education class. More selfishly, he said, the school is much closer to home, "so I don't have to wake up so early."
The teachers were equally eager.
Language arts teacher Carla Grisso-DeGaetano briefly noted her expectations before asking her eighth-graders to take out their copies of the summer reading assignment, The Bad Beginning, by popular children's author Lemony Snicket.
"I'm ready to go," she said to the class as she launched into her lesson.
Most of the first-day activities resembled those of other schools.
Kids spent their time meeting teachers, learning rules, catching up with friends. Kinks in the bus schedule, a jammed copy machine, and the unavailability of a lunch option kept the small administrative staff busy.
Perhaps the most notable thing about the day was the very fact that it happened, Siefert and Gatti readily admitted.
They willingly overlooked that the computers were set up on boxes because the desks hadn't arrived, or that lessons conducted outdoors were obscured by the whir of eight air-conditioning units and the rumble of forklifts from next door.
"This is an excellent start with very few hitches," Siefert said. "There was a lot of planning and thought that went into the first few days and months of school. I'm just glad to see it culminated in such a good fashion."
He did not worry about the school's financial situation, which had raised enough concerns among School Board members earlier in the year to prompt the board to reject Gulf Coast Academy's charter.
The school now has access to its $150,000 startup grant, Siefert said, and it received its first installment of state funding Tuesday.
"With that influx of cash and capital, we will have no problems," he said.
The charter school's board of directors will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday at the school, 10444 Tillery Road.
- Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at 352 754-6115 or solochek@sptimes.com
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