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School District May Take Over Ailing USF Patel Charter

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By LENORA LAKE and MICHELE SAGER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 30, 2008

TAMPA - The nation's first charter school run by a public university might be transferred to the Hillsborough County School District because USF Patel Charter School lacks money and services to boost its failing status.

Leaders of the charter school on the University of South Florida campus unanimously voted Tuesday to ask the district to take over school operations.

"In a time of diminishing resources, it has been abundantly clear that we do not have the resources to fulfill the needs our students," said Ralph Wilcox, USF provost and the president of the charter school's board of directors.

He discussed the matter in a meeting with other board members, USF President Judy Genshaft and Hillsborough schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia.

Since it opened in 1998, leaders have struggled to enroll students at the elementary school, thus reducing the money it received from the state. Then the school received a "D" grade from the state in 2005, and an "F" this year.

On Monday, USF Patel Principal Rylene Stein resigned to do missionary work out of the country. Now, the Hillsborough County School Board must decide whether it will take over the school. Elia discussed the issue at Tuesday's board meeting.

School board members agreed to negotiate a way to take control - after expressing anger with USF.

'Sad State Of Affairs'

"It's a sad state of affairs that they didn't know what was coming until today," board member Jack Lamb said. "We're going to be opening school in a matter of weeks."

Elia told the elected board members that she needed their approval to begin talks immediately with USF about taking control of the school, which has about 225 students.

Nearby schools are crowded, and with the school year starting Aug. 18, Elia said it would be better for students to remain at the school their families expect they will attend on the first day of classes.

The school district took over another charter school, North Tampa Alternative, in 2003. No timeline was set for the takeover of USF Patel, but board members requested frequent updates.

If the school district takes over the charter school, teachers at USF Patel will have to reapply for their jobs or other district positions. The district ultimately would hire a new principal.

Leaders from the school and the district also met with the teachers Tuesday. Some teachers wiped away tears; others asked about job security, pay and benefits.

Choking back tears, Assistant Principal Joanne Callahan reassured the staff that better days are ahead.

"We do have a lot to prove," she said. "We can prove we are not a struggling school. We have what it takes."

When university leaders planned the charter school more than a decade ago, they envisioned a new concept in education. They touted an alternative choice for at-risk students living in the University area. The students would have access to the latest in education training, and the school would serve as a teaching laboratory for education majors at USF.

It would be free of the constraints of traditional schools because charters are public schools paid for with public dollars but run by private groups without some state restrictions.

But the school struggled to recruit students, retain long-term leadership and faculty, and build its own facility. Three years after opening, it had a $65,000 deficit.

Things began to turn around for the school in 2003, when it opened a $2.2 million, privately funded building on campus. Kiran Patel, a USF trustee for whom the school is named, was a major donor.

State Gives It 'D' Grade

But when the school received a "D" grade from the state, the district threatened to shut it down. Board members gave the school a second chance, and student scores improved the following year.

This past year, half of the school's fourth-graders and 39 percent of fifth-graders performed at grade level. Wilcox said the charter school didn't have the salary structure and benefits needed to recruit and reward staff.

Genshaft concluded the district "will be able to interact even more" as a traditional school.

Parent Harold McIver said USF's decision to turn over power was shocking. McIver has two children at the school. He is on the board.

"This is absolutely about our 'F' grade, but I don't think it's a fair portrayal of our school," McIver said. "Everyone here is so dedicated to helping children, and that's what makes this so hard."

If the plan is approved, USF has vowed to continue its partnership as it does with Pizzo Elementary, a district-run school also on campus.

Reporters Adam Emerson and Kenneth Knight contributed to this report. Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851. Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-1523.

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