A charter school can better and more quickly respond to the pressing needs of military families at MacDill Air Force Base than a district school. So says the base commander as a clash looms between the Tampa, Fla., institution and one of the nation’s biggest school districts.
Earlier this week, the Hillsborough County district told supporters of a proposed, on-base charter that its initial recommendation is to deny the school’s application.
Col. Scott DeThomas, the base commander, said afterward that he applauded the country’s eighth-biggest school district for its efforts to accommodate MacDill, which is home to U.S. Central Command. But he also said needs remain, including the desire of many families to bring their children to a school on base, and MacDill must move quickly to meet them.
That doesn’t appear feasible right now because a district-run elementary school on base is at capacity. The proposed MacDill Charter Academy would be a K-8 with 875 students, offering additional elementary seats and a middle school option that isn’t available at MacDill.
“I really respect the district’s position,’’ DeThomas said in an interview with redefinED. “But, unfortunately, at this time we need to do more for our military families.’’
Hillsborough officials said the recommended denial could be reversed, but they needed more information on the makeup of the charter school’s governing board. A meeting between the district and charter school backers is set for Monday morning.
Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, who has won a reputation as a progressive-minded leader, said she believes the district can better serve the needs of military families. Thomas politely disagreed.
It’s a different world for modern soldiers, most of whom have known only war during their enlistment, he said. For many, that has meant moving from base to base and routine deployments every few years – something extremely stressful for military families, especially children. “We want to get ahead of that,’’ DeThomas said.
The commander doesn’t have to look much further for examples than his own family. His son, a senior, is attending his fourth high school. His daughter, a second-grader at the district’s base school, A-rated Tinker Elementary, is for the first time attending the same school two years in a row.
The district offers special counselors at Tinker, and the school’s staff is attuned to the needs of its military families. But once those kids move to different middle schools, which aren’t located on the base, they are thrust into schools without that expertise – and with students who mostly haven’t shared their experiences as military kids, DeThomas said.
A charter school on base would allow organizers to cater the curriculum and support services to those military kids. It also would give MacDill additional capacity to serve the 13,000 military families who call the Tampa Bay area home, as well as 600 more that are expected when new on-base housing is complete next year.
“We’re very happy with the product the Hillsborough district provides, but we feel we can better address an issue that the county can’t possibly address,’’ DeThomas said. “We don’t think they can provide those resources.’’
At least not as quickly. MacDill has partnered with Air Mobility Command (AMC) East Communities, which is providing the land and helping to build the school. Charter Schools USA would manage the school with the Florida Charter Educational Foundation overseeing operations.
“We think this charter school is one more mechanism to help our families,’’ DeThomas said. “We want to take it to the next level.’’
Elia is expected to make her recommendation Tuesday to the Hillsborough County School Board, which makes the final decision. If approved, the school could open in August. If denied, organizers could appeal to the State Board of Education.
Every family should be able to choose their child’s school. A politician controlled school monopoly generally provides lower quality at a higher price. For example, consider the Washington DC “Opportunity Scholarship Program” (vouchers) which increasing graduation rates while costing less than 25% of the monopoly schools: https://blog.heritage.org/2012/11/20/d-c-opportunity-scholarship-program-is-accountable-to-parents/ Why did the Obama regime choose to abandon this successful program?
Hi Lee, thanks for the comment. We definitely agree with you about parents and choice, and we too are fans of the D.C. voucher program. The Obama administration’s position on the program has been disappointing, clearly more about education politics than education policy. At least the administration is strongly supporting charter schools.