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Boarding School Among Housing Authority's Plans

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By JOHN W. ALLMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 20, 2008

Updated: 11/20/2008 11:24 am

TAMPA - A boarding school for low-income children is being considered by the Tampa Housing Authority as part of the agency's ambitious, new five-year plan.

The authority has more than 3,000 children and teenagers living in the 16 public housing properties it operates, said Lillian Stringer, director of public relations.

The agency has struggled with, and worked to address, issues such as youth loitering and truancy.

"We're trying to find another way to keep them focused on education," Stringer said Wednesday.

Authority President Jerome Ryans "feels education is the best way to address poverty," she said.

The authority's board will vote on the long-range plan in December. It includes major projects in areas such as affordable home ownership, tenant self-sufficiency and new construction that the authority hopes to accomplish by 2013.

The agency could begin seeking funding for the boarding school as early as 2010, according to the plan.

Stringer said a boarding school likely would feature smaller classrooms geared toward individual attention. Students would wear uniforms and live on-site.

The authority is researching the concept and looking at how such a project might be funded.

Stephanie Brown-Gilmore, director of program and property services, has visited two schools with similar concepts in Chicago and Hershey, Penn., Stringer said.

Many specifics have yet to be decided, such as whether the school would cater exclusively to children and teenagers who live in public housing and what ages and grade levels the school would include.

"They haven't determined whether it's going to be all boys, all girls or mixed, and age ranges," Stringer said.

Anyone wishing to talk about the boarding school, or other projects proposed in the plan, can do so at the authority's Dec. 17 board meeting.

Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915.

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