The Tampa Housing Authority in conjunction with the Bank of America is planning to redevelop the community known as Central Park located at the north end of downtown Tampa. Meacham Elementary School falls within the boundaries of that community. School District staff has been discussing the options available to include the Meacham property into the new development and relocating a school facility elsewhere in the area. No decision has been reached at this point.

However, in order for the project to proceed to the next step, an application to rezone the property must be submitted. As an owner of property within the affected area, the School District was asked by the requesting parties to authorize the rezoning of the Meacham School property. The School District will bear no costs associated with this rezoning. The requested rezoning would continue to allow a school on the property as well as other compatible uses, such as residential. By consenting to the rezoning of this property, the School District has not agreed to sell the property or to trade the property. In order to preserve the School District's existing property rights, a proviso is being placed on our consent form to require the placement of a note on the site plan ensuring that Meacham will continue to be a legal, conforming use after the rezoning.

District staff will continue to work with the development team to see if a proposal for the Meacham School that is acceptable to the School District can be reached. The School Board will be presented with those proposals as a separate agenda item sometime in the future.

Goal 6 - All schools in the District will be assigned a state grade of A, B, or C.