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Dungy Son Transfer Produces Questions

AP file photo (2006)

Eric Dungy, right, son of Colts coach Tony Dungy, is being allowed to attend Plant High School in South Tampa through a special assignment.

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By MARILYN BROWN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

TAMPA - Each year the parents of thousands of students ask Hillsborough County school officials for special assignments to allow their children to enroll in crowded schools outside their attendance boundaries.

These days, about half are turned away.

But that's not what happened to Tony Dungy's son this year, who is being allowed to attend desirable Plant High School in South Tampa although the only property listed in his parents' name on county records is in Avila, in the northwest corner of Hillsborough.

Citing privacy laws, the school district won't say why it allowed Dungy's son - or any student, for that matter - to win a special assignment. But the news drew questions about favoritism from some of those who posted comments online after reading a Tampa Tribune story.

"My kids were 'LURED' to Plant by an expensive property purchase. This is how you do it if you are one of the little people," said one reader.

Tony Dungy could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

District rules say students qualify for special assignments only for extreme, profound or medical hardship; a court order; military transition; or being the child of a district employee.

Nobody is saying why or how Eric Dungy qualifies for a special assignment to the school when 87 of the 148 applicants were turned down during the past year. The school is at 114 percent of its capacity.

"I can't discuss special assignments," said Steve Ayers, the man who reviews special assignments.

As the district's community and parent relations director, Ayers recommends whether the school board should approve or deny them.

Ayers acknowledged that hardships - including medical - are the biggest category of applicants, but won't describe what would qualify.

"It's by individual," he said. "I'm always asked what I consider a hardship. I say, 'You tell me your situation.'"

Sports and academics are not reasons, Ayers said.

When the second semester started on Jan. 8, in the middle of his sophomore year, Eric Dungy entered Plant High and became a wide receiver for the school's football team.

The team was 2006 Class 4A state champion.

'Have A Level Playing Field For Everyone'

Shirley Warsham, a Tampa mother who unsuccessfully applied for a special assignment late last year to transfer her son to Plant, said she still doesn't know what the criteria is to do that.

"I was told my issue didn't fit the criteria," she said.

"I don't begrudge the Dungys going to Plant," she said. But "if you're going to have a level playing field, then have a level playing field for everyone. I don't know whether it's level or not."

"I'm surprised that decisions of this magnitude rest with one individual," she said.

For decades, recommendations for special assignments rested with a biracial advisory committee that included community members and district staff. The committee was assigned to monitor student transfers and other desegregation issues under the district's federal court order to desegregate schools.

After the court order was lifted in 2001 and the district's own school choice plan was established in 2004, the committee was disbanded and special assignment applications were handed over to Ayers.

The equity issue is long-standing. Some families have purchased second homes or leased apartments in a boundary and used the home to establish residence so their children could attend a certain school.

Shopping for an athletic program is part of it, coaches acknowledge.

"This has been going on for years in boys and girls sports," said Mike DePue, Robinson High School's football coach. "It's all-pervasive really."

Jahleel Addae, Hillsborough County's second leading rusher last season, tried to transfer to Armwood High from Riverview High in August. He lived in the Bloomingdale attendance zone, but attended Riverview on a special assignment. A second special assignment to Armwood was initially approved but rescinded before it was approved by the school board. It was rescinded the day before he was to register, and he remained at Riverview.

Waiver Process To Get Tougher

School board members receive a list of all applicants, a category of hardship, and whether they are recommended for approval or denial, said Bill Person, general director of student planning, placement and support programs.

"School board members quite often call staff and ask for specific information on recommendations," Person said. Ultimately a parent can appeal a denial to the entire board.

Beginning in February, the district's Choice Advisory Committee, which replaced the citizens advisory committee, will begin hearing appeals from parents before they reach the school board, Person said.

Parents had to apply every year, and most were approved before 2004. Schools were allowed to enroll well over capacity.

Now students keep a special assignment until they change to middle or high school or graduate. A little more than half of applications are denied.

Numbers will drop further when the state's class-size amendment is fully implemented in August, both Person and Ayers said.

"If the school is not able to meet class-size reduction, we won't have the luxury to approve any," Person said. "We have to take into consideration the safety and welfare of the child. It's going to have to be catastrophic."

Person said he reviews special assignment applications after Ayers.

"We have yet to approve a special assignment for athletic reasons," he said. "If any athlete gets a special assignment, there is a hardship."

Reporters Katherine Smith and Jeff Patterson contributed to this report. Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at mbrown@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-8069.

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