Politics

State representative gives up job at school

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published July 20, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - State Rep. John Legg, a New Port Richey Republican who sits on the House Schools and Learning Council, plans to give up his day job at the charter school he co-founded seven years ago.

"I just can't be there anymore," Legg explained. "I'm in 1,000 different directions. It's hard for me to do it all the time."

Plus, his wife runs the publicly funded school and "it's not good policy to have us both there at the same time."

Legg's $26,000 salary from Dayspring Academy hardly would cover the pay of a new assistant administrator, though. So Legg plans to ask the Pasco School Board on Tuesday to reduce the school's annual administrative fee from 5 percent to 3 percent, putting about $65,000 back into the charter's budget for its own costs.

That's in line with the way other school districts treat A-rated charter schools, Legg said. "If we ever lose our A, they'd get their 2 percent back," he added.

Superintendent Heather Fiorentino, once Legg's boss, has recommended that the School Board reject his request. She noted in a memo that Dayspring Academy has a contract setting forth the 5 percent fee and contended that the district earns it with the "extensive services" it provides the charter school.

Legg plans to stick with the charter school until he's replaced. And he intends to remain a staunch advocate for the charter school movement. As for his future employment outside the Legislature, though, he's not sure what he'll be doing next.

Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at solochek@sptimes.com or 813 909-4614. For more education news, visit The Gradebook at blogs.tampabay.com/schools.

[Last modified July 20, 2007, 06:43:23]