Hillsborough County Public Schools Administration
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, June 27, 2006
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Termination of Contract with Central City Elementary School of Tampa, Inc.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Central City Elementary School of Tampa, Inc. has a contract with the School District that commenced on July 1, 2001 and ends on June 30, 2006. Florida Statute 1002.33(8) includes provision for the non-renewal or termination of a charter contract for failure to meet the requirements for student performance stated in the charter. It is understood that the contract, the School Improvement Plan, The Title I Schools in Need of Improvement Plan and/or Assistance Plus Plan are all parts of the school’s contract performance requirements. Central City Elementary has not met this standard, as evidenced by sustained low student performance that resulted in District-calculated grades of “F” and “D” respectively for 2004 and 2005, as well as a state-calculated grade of “F” for 2006 [Attachment 1, page 1, paragraph 5(a)].

On March 27, 2005, the Superintendent notified the principal and Board Chair of Central City Elementary of her intent to recommend non-renewal of the school’s contract, based upon sustained low student performance. The Board Chair requested and received permission to participate in an informal hearing before the School Board to respond to this notice. The informal hearing was held on May 11, 2006. A 30-day contract extension was requested by district staff so that all information would be available to ensure an informed decision regarding contract renewal. The Board approved the contract extension on April 4, 2006, for a period commencing on July 1, 2006 and ending on July 30, 2006.

Consistent with established procedures, a district review team assessed the school’s performance relevant to student achievement, finance, governance, administration, curriculum and instruction, and assessment.

The DOE’s announcement of school grades on June 14, 2006, in which Central City received a grade of “F,” prompted the Superintendent to request a meeting with representatives from the school. Because Central City Elementary has failed to meet its student achievement increase requirements, the Superintendent recommends the termination of the contract effective at the end of the 90-day notice period, June 27 2006.

This recommendation will impact approximately 125 students in grades K-5. District staff is prepared to provide an intensive summer remediation program to address the needs of these students as well as assistance with placement for the 2006-2007 school year.

Attached are the school’s current contract (Attachment 1) a report of the review team’s findings and recommendations (Attachment 2), a letter summarizing the findings of a recent Reading First Focus School Site Visit (Attachment 3), the School Improvement Plan with progress reports to the DOE (Attachment 4) and the Annual Report to the DOE (Attachment 5).

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The charter school’s 2005-2006 enrollment generated approximately $673,885 in FEFP funds. The school also received approximately $48,631 in capital outlay funds from the Florida Department of Education.

EVALUATION

n/a

SUBMITTED BY: Anne Chatfield, Ph.D., Director of Non-Traditional Programs

William H. Person
General Director of Pupil Placement & Support
(813) 272-4876
Lewis A. Brinson
Assistant Superintendent for Administration
(813) 272-4070
7.02
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20060627_218 * Section E Item# 7.02