Hillsborough County Public Schools Administration
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, July 25, 2006
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Contract With Tampa Marine Institute (TMI).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tampa Marine Institute (TMI) provides a 240-day non-residential dropout prevention program for eligible students who are either under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) or assigned through the change of placement process. Because it serves students who are under the supervision of DJJ, TMI undergoes annual Quality Assurance Reviews conducted by the Juvenile Justice Educational Enhancement Program (JJEEP).

The overall results of the most recent Quality Assurance Review conducted at TMI were unsatisfactory, and a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) was required to address several areas of deficiency. In order to fully implement the programmatic changes necessary to ensure that TMI students receive a quality education, both district and TMI staff made immediate corrections, including changes in personnel. The superintendent requested and was granted an extension of the CAP and a review by JJEEP staff of the progress toward its full implementation by the end of June, 2006. In order to ensure that the results of the review were considered before a new contract was developed, district staff requested and the Board approved a thirty (30) day extension of the current contract between the district and TMI to July 30, 2006.

The JJEEP reviewer visited TMI on June 22, 2006, and reported vast improvement in the program’s operations. Because of this positive report, and the commitment expressed by TMI staff to provide a quality educational program, District staff recommends a renewal of the contract between the District and TMI.

TMI provides the facility and the personnel for the educational program, with support and oversight by the school district’s Youth Services program. The school district is required to pay private providers like TMI 90% of all FTE revenue earned and provide access to all applicable categorical funds.

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

All district goals, with the exception of Goal 6 – All schools in the district will be assigned a state grade of A, B, or C. Educational programs serving students under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice are not assigned grades by the state.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The cost of this contract is $279,408. This amount is within the projected revenue minus the 10% administrative cost allowed by Florida law (HB 1989). Additional costs for direct services provided by District staff assigned full-time to TMI ($73,206) have also been deducted.

EVALUATION

District staff will conduct a mock Quality Assurance Review by December 30, 2006, to monitor program performance. A Quality Assurance Review will be conducted by the Juvenile Justice Educational Enhancement Program by June 30, 2007.

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

William H. Person
General Director, Pupil Placement & Support Programs
(813) 272-4876
Lewis A. Brinson
Assistant Superintendent for Administration
(813) 272-4070
7.02
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20060725_180 * Section E Item# 7.02