The State Board of Education ruled that Escambia County Public Schools has 48 hours to sign a contract with Charter Schools USA to operate Warrington Middle School. If not, the salaries of the superintendent and each board member could be withheld.
Why this matters: Warrington Middle School has been one of the lowest-performing middle schools in Florida for over a decade. The Escambia County School Board must hire a charter school operator or close the school.
Tempers boiled over when State Board Vice Chair Ryan Petty described the school district as “incompetent or disingenuous” in its negotiations with Charter USA.
The sticking point has been over the attendance zone. Read more.
Superintendent Tim Smith reported to the state board that Charter USA and the school district have resolved the attendance issue, and he will recommend the school board approve the contract with Charter USA at its meeting tonight.
Dig Deeper:
State board threatens to withhold salaries of superintendent, school board members over WMS
By Tom St. Myer
Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and State Board of Education board members dealt a severe tongue-lashing to Escambia Superintendent Tim Smith and School Board Chair Paul Fetsko before issuing their ruling during a special state board meeting Tuesday morning.
The board ruled that Escambia County Public Schools has 48 hours to agree to contractual terms with Charter Schools USA to operate Warrington Middle School. If the school board fails to approve the agreement at its regularly scheduled meeting tonight and submit a contract by Thursday morning, the state board will report its failure to comply with state law and recommend the salaries of the superintendent and each board member be withheld to the State Legislature.
Last Friday, the school board unanimously approved a closure plan for WMS, pending what the state board ruled. Smith revealed to the state board that the school district spoke with Charter USA on Friday afternoon and cleared up concerns about zoning middle school students. The school district requested and Charter USA agreed to promise 200 seats per grade level to middle school students who live in the attendance zone. The education management organization plans to eventually turn Warrington into a K-12 magnet school, but the 600 middle school seats will be reserved.
The special board meeting held by the state board turned contentious early as Diaz railed on the school district for failing WMS students for 10-plus years. The state board and Department of Education ordered that Warrington either close or transition to a charter school by the 2023-24 school year. The order came after Warrington earned yet another D this past school. Warrington last earned a C in the 2010-11 school year.
Tempers boiled over when State Board Vice Chair Ryan Petty described the school district as “incompetent or disingenuous” in its negotiations with Charter USA. The normally meek Smith raised his voice and said, “It really disturbs me that you say we are incompetent and don’t care. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
His stern reply drew further criticism from state board members. Petty doubled down on calling the school district incompetent or disingenuous.
State board member Esther Byrd questioned if Smith understood the legal ramifications of failing to sign a contract with Charter USA by the May 1 deadline, a violation of a statute that authorizes the state board to determine if a district school board “is unwilling or unable to comply with law or state board rule within the specified time.”
“I can’t tell if you understand fully that you’re out of compliance with the law,” Byrd said. “Do you understand the situation we have before us?”
Byrd pressed Smith on whether he will recommend the school board approve the contract with Charter USA at its meeting tonight. Smith confirmed he will now that the attendance zone issue has been resolved. Fetkso declined to say how he will vote. He said he will have to review the contract thoroughly before he knows for certain.
Two other points of contention remain for the school district in negotiations as the clock ticks down on the 48 hours.
Charter USA requested to operate without paying any fees to facilitate Warrington Middle. The school district responded with a request that Charter USA pay 2% the first two years, 3% in its third year and 4% the fourth year and beyond. School officials pointed out that the magnet school Beulah Academy of Science pays 4%. Charter USA rejected that proposal and insisted on zero fees.
The second point of contention concerns discretionary capital funds for building construction renovations. Legislation for charter schools to receive a portion of the millage rate paid by taxpayers is pending approval from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The school district anticipates the governor signing the legislation into law and proposes increasing the amount by 20% each year until hitting the 100% threshold by the fifth year. Charter USA is countering that 100% be paid by the second year.
The school board meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at J.E. Hall Center. Stay tuned for coverage of the meeting.
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