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State Approves Rescue Plans For Poor Performing Schools

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By ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 17, 2009

TAMPA - The state Board of Education on Tuesday approved rescue plans for three Hillsborough County schools that could shake up the faculty and staff if they fail to improve.

Sulphur Springs Elementary, Franklin Middle Magnet and Middleton High all have spent the last several months under the state's watch and have been considered to be among Florida's 12 worst-performing schools.

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, however, said each school already is showing signs of turning around.

Her plan empowers her to replace the principals and their staffs if test performance continues to deteriorate, but Elia says she has no plans to do that.

"Every indication we have is that all of our targeted schools are improving," Elia said.

The schools first gained attention last summer when the state Education Department identified 13 of them for possible closure if they didn't improve.

One school, a Tallahassee middle school, is being closed. The steps Hillsborough is taking are similar to those under consideration in Broward, Miami-Dade, Escambia, Orange and Palm Beach counties.

When results from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test are released around June, Elia and her staff will analyze the scores to see if it's necessary to shake up the schools. Schools are wrapping up FCAT testing this week.

Any steps the schools may take would be bankrolled mostly by the federal money they get for low-income students.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285.

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