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USF Charter School Changes Name, Management

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By ADAM EMERSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

TAMPA - The struggling USF/Patel Charter School on Tuesday took on a different name under different management.

The Hillsborough County School Board voted unanimously to enter into a lease agreement with the University of South Florida as it takes control of the school now known as the USF/Patel Partnership School.

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia says the "partnership" isn't yet defined, but USF Provost Ralph Wilcox said in an interview that university faculty likely will show greater involvement with the school than in years past.

The school district will employ more seasoned teachers experienced enough to supervise interns that professors introduce in a school, Wilcox said. When more professors become familiar with a school, they're more inclined to conduct research there.

"I think you will see more and more research partnerships expanded," Wilcox said.

The school's founders criticized the university last week for failing to engage with a charter school that was once seen as an education lab for faculty but instead decayed into "failing" status with the state.

The F came from the school's poor FCAT scores, and the university's decision to turn control over to the school district came just two weeks before the start of school.

Elia told the school board Tuesday that she brought Barbara Ammirati, the former principal of Lewis Elementary, out of retirement to lead the USF/Patel Partnership School until she finds a permanent replacement.

The charter school's teachers are reapplying for their jobs, Elia said. Some will be offered positions, either at the Patel school or elsewhere in the district. "But there are no guarantees," Elia said.

The school primarily serves low-income, at-risk students, as it has since its opening a decade ago. Elia, however, didn't know whether the school would retain that mission in the future.

In other business, the school board voted not to renew the contract for another troubled charter school, Prince Community Academy. The K-8 school, with 39 students, was last graded F by the state, and has struggled since it opened in 2002 with academic, disciplinary and financial issues.

The board also appointed: Joyce Wieland to general director of exceptional student education; Carol Gilmore to the district's elementary/generalist; Maryann Parks to supervisor of exceptional student education; and Angelique Xenick to supervisor of the district's senior high guidance services.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285 or aemerson@tampatrib.com.

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