The Hillsborough County School Board announced its decision to renew charters for four charter schools after the State of Florida was threatening legal action. The school board initially opted to not renew the charters but reversed its decision this week.
The school board initially decided to not renew the charters based on the claim that the schools were not meeting the needs of special needs students.
Richard Corcoran, Florida’s education commissioner, indicated his frustration by the initial non-renewal, saying that elected officials normally do their jobs. The Florida Department of Education also sent a letter to the school board warning of the potential impact the non-renewal would have on parents, teachers, and thousands of students who attend the four schools.
“We’ve never gotten to this point because normally elected officials follow the law,” Corcoran said. “To be in this junction is unprecedented.”
The state had also threatened Hillsborough with potentially losing $1 billion in government funding, and school board member Jessica Vaughn criticized the state for what she said was “overreach.”
“How often are we going to allow the state to overreach and really decide what we need to do with our district?” Vaughn said.
When the school board voted to renew the charters of all four schools at once, Vaughn was the lone “no” vote, saying she was hoping to vote on the schools individually and felt the schools needed additional oversight to ensure they were adequately meeting the needs of the students.
Superintendent Addison Davis reassured Vaughn, the school board, and the parents and teachers in the crowd additional provisions will be met.
Multiple disagreements have arisen between Corcoran’s education department and the Hillsborough School District. Last year, Hillsborough put together their school reopening plan that kept all Hillsborough students at home through September, and Corcoran insisted the plan incorporate an August reopening.
The Hillsborough School District has also felt the need to defend the public school system after charter schools have gotten more popular. The school district loses approximately $250 million every year from students leaving public schools for charter schools.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
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Parents; If you haven’t figured it out by now… in order to set your children up to become respectful, knowledgeable, intelligent, contributing, law abiding and productive members of a free and decent society… you must get the the he// out of the Public Indoctrination System as soon as possible.
The damage these communist clowns are causing will take years, if not decades, to correct.
“The state had also threatened Hillsborough with potentially losing $1 billion in government funding,” ………………. NOT the State, try ONE Person, a Democrat because if you remember, THIS is what Joe Biden did to protect his Son.
O/T – Breaking News!!
City commissioners illegally stopped growth on Blairstone and Miccosukee Road! There is no valid reason why a business cannot be built on the corner of Miccosukee Road and Blairstone. The vendor is suing the city as their attorney is one of the top law firms in Florida. Dianne Williams Cox may have failed to disclose conversations she had regarding the vote. Commissioners even went against staff recommendation. More evidence that commissioners are out of touch, don’t know the laws, and the need for a new city manager. An Ethics Complaint filing may be in order for Dianne Williams Cox.
Imagine living in a country where the government decides where your children are for the majority of their waking hours, who they’re with, and what they’re taught. That would be crazy, wouldn’t it?
After so many gave so much for the country we have today, it’s unbelievable that Americans have handed their children over to be raised by the government. Our founding fathers would be shocked at what we’ve become.
Restore freedom. Let all parents, regardless of income, decide where their children go to school.
Keep up the good work, Commissioner Richard Corcoran.
Hillsborough county public schools are failing, if they were successful charter schools wouldn’t be an issue. Everyone knows it, especially the teachers unions…
Corcoran knows better than to get Rocky mad over something like the Leon County Red Hills Charter School exact same issue as in Hillsborough County.
All Florida Republican politicians fear Rocky and operate under strict hands off Leon County orders.
Stay out of Rocky’s business Mr Corcoran. Rocky’s rocks are much bigger than your peanuts.
Ssshhhhh y’all dont tell Mr. Corcoran I’m actually wishing he would smack Rocky down a notch or two!!! Ssshhhhh!!!
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“The school board initially decided to not renew the charters based on the claim that the schools were not meeting the needs of special needs students.”
Seems awfully reckless and irresponsible to destroy 4 businesses and harm thousands of children and families… not to mention the loss and destruction of many good paying jobs and careers… based simply on a “claim”.
That they caved when faced with legal action – which would likely force them to validate their reckless actions – further proves that the were not only wrong, but knew they were wrong.
What say you voters?