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Charter schools struggle as growth goes on

Four schools are in place, with more on the way, but land on the west side is scarce.

By GINA PACE
Published December 26, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Zach Boyden-Holmes] Virginia Rincon-Stitt pleads with the School Board not to close the Language Academy in New Port Richey, which her sons, Aaron, left, and Marshall have attended for years.

The Pasco County School District continued to expand in 2006, suffering a few growing pains along the way.

Six schools were slated to open during the 2006-2007 school year. Four of those schools - Gulf Highlands Elementary, Oakstead Elementary, Paul R. Smith Middle and Dr. John Long Middle - opened permanent campuses. Trinity Oaks Elementary and Wiregrass Ranch High will open their permanent buildings in January.

Five more schools are planned for next year, but two of those schools will also have midyear starts.

Finding land for new schools on the west side of the county became more difficult. In June, the district bought 65 acres at $86,000 each for an elementary school at Boca Vista in Holiday. This month, the district paid $8-million for 37 acres for a high school off State Road 52 in Hudson.

Student enrollment increased by 1,948 for a total of 64,720, but that growth was about 450 students fewer than the state projected.

Charter schools were under scrutiny as the Language Academy in New Port Richey submitted financial recovery plans to keep the school open while district staffers recommended that it be closed. The Richard Milburn Academy was put on probation and had to present a corrective plan for curriculum and financial problems. The Greek-language Athenian Academy had a rocky start without a Greek teacher and a permanent facility but had both by the end of the year.

A rift between superintendent Heather Fiorentino and the School Board became apparent when it came to some controversial issues.

In a 4-1 vote in November, board members rejected Fiorentino's recommendation to fire a suicidal teacher. Retiring board member Jean Larkin Weightman said she was "disappointed and ashamed" that the case against the teacher, Patti Withers, had gone so far. Her case had been played out in lengthy public hearings.

Fiorentino also pushed for a teacher dress code; the School Board didn't take action on the matter.

Tensions mounted before the election when two School Board members accused Fiorentino of playing games and engaging in a power struggle over the distribution of a flier regarding a referendum, which asked voters whether the elected superintendent should instead be appointed. Voters rejected switching to an appointment system, as they have done four other times.

Two board members, Weightman and Kathleen Wolf, with 36 years of combined experience, retired. Filling their seats are Allen Altman, who defeated Cathi Compton in a runoff election, and Frank Parker, who defeated Lance A. Shortt in the September primary. Board member Cathi Martin won re-election by defeating Michele Chamberlin, a career specialist at J.W. Mitchell High School.

On Oct. 3, the district lost Chuck Rushe, a financial wizard who shrewdly managed the finances of the fast-growing Pasco County School District for more than three decades, after a short but intense battle with lung cancer.

A middle school planned for Concord will be named after him.

A rift between superintendent Heather Fiorentino and the School Board became apparent when it came to some controversial issues.

In a 4-1 vote in November, board members rejected Fiorentino's recommendation to fire a suicidal teacher. Retiring board member Jean Larkin Weightman said she was "disappointed and ashamed" that the case against the teacher, Patti Withers, had gone so far. Her case had been played out in lengthy public hearings.

Fiorentino also pushed for a teacher dress code; the School Board didn't take action on the matter.

Tensions mounted before the election when two School Board members accused Fiorentino of playing games and engaging in a power struggle over the distribution of a flier regarding a referendum, which asked voters whether the elected superintendent should instead be appointed. Voters rejected switching to an appointment system, as they have done four other times.

Two board members, Weightman and Kathleen Wolf, with 36 years of combined experience, retired. Filling their seats are Allen Altman, who defeated Cathi Compton in a runoff election, and Frank Parker, who defeated Lance A. Shortt in the September primary. Board member Cathi Martin won re-election by defeating Michele Chamberlin, a career specialist at J.W. Mitchell High School.

On Oct. 3, the district lost Chuck Rushe, a financial wizard who shrewdly managed the finances of the fast-growing Pasco County School District for more than three decades, after a short but intense battle with lung cancer.

A middle school planned for Concord will be named after him.

Gina Pace can be reached at (352) 521-6518 or gpace@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 25, 2006, 22:09:34]