Approve termination of recent Contract Renewal for USF/Patel Charter School

On May 20, 2008, the Hillsborough County School Board approved a five year contract with the USF/Patel Charter School (K-3) and the USF/Patel Intermediate Charter School (4-5) and combined them into one school. The schools had operated as two schools since the approval of the USF/Patel Intermediate Charter School opened in August 2005.

The USF/Patel Charter School board called a meeting to discuss student achievement and the educational interests of students attending the school. The board met today, July 29, 2008, and voted unanimously to commence collaborative negotiations with the Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools to take over operation of the former charter school. A board resolution is attached.

In order for the students to remain at their current school, the district will work in partnership with the former charter school to smoothly transition the school from charter status to traditional status. This will include but not be limited to: hiring staff, reviewing available resources, ordering additional materials, reviewing financial records, and entering into a contract with the University of South Florida for use of the facilities.

The district priority will be to raise student achievement by utilizing test data from the 2007-2008 school year and aligning instruction to meet the needs of the students.

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

The USF/Patel Charter School received $1,513,247.17 for the 2007 - 2008 school year.

Due to termination of contract, no evaluation is required.