Three West Orange charter schools renewed

The School Board also finalized rezones for West Orange High and many local elementary schools.

By Zak Kerr
| 4:21 a.m. March 17, 2016

West Orange Times & Observer
News

WEST ORANGE COUNTY The tandem of Hope Charter School and Legacy Charter High School celebrates its 15th anniversary this August in Ocoee.

But school personnel recently celebrated 15 more years via a contract renewal with Orange County Public Schools, approved at the March 8 School Board meeting in Orlando. The same goes for Montessori of Winter Garden Charter School, which opened in August 2011.

HOW DOES CHARTER RENEWAL WORK?

Charter terms are usually for five years, but a 15-year term can apply, which Hope and Legacy already had, Yoakum said.

“Each school had several years remaining on their contract but chose to apply for renewal early … so that an eight-classroom building could be added,” she said.

For renewals, schools must present to specific members of the Orange County School Choice Office, Yoakum said. This includes an executive summary, data for academic performance in the last five years, financial documents, organizational performance and future plans. A site team visits the school for the presentation; tours; classroom observation; questioning board members, parents and teachers; and deliberation before submitting comments used to recommend approval or denial.

Hope, for example, has future plans to seek more brain research to improve student learning, as well as add practice fields, an outdoor exercise area and an outdoor science classroom.

From this point, the charter schools will negotiate their contracts with the school district.

“Obviously it is a great privilege and joy to have been deemed worthy to receive another 15-year charter term,” Crystal Yoakum, Hope and Legacy CEO, said. “It is our goal to look at the possibility of replicating, since our waiting lists indicate an interest in our schools from community members.”

Sherilyn Moore, president of the MWGCS Board of Directors, said earning renewal when officials visited on Jan. 21 was an effort of the entire MWGCS community.

“Parents … shared their stories about when their kid jumps in the car and says, ‘That was the best day ever!’ six days in a row,” Moore said. “The kids, too, they just beam when they talk about their school. They have such joy and pride.”

Hope and Legacy combine to serve about 459 students in grades kindergarten to eight and 171 students in grades nine to 12, respectively. MWGCS has a student population of about 250 in grades kindergarten to eight.

OCPS officials determined all three schools directly support two School Board strategic goals: intense focus on student achievement and efficient operations.

REZONES APPROVED

With the basis of zones recommended in its Jan. 28 rule development workshop, the School Board finalized two West Orange County relief school zones.

The relief high school on Winter Garden-Vineland Road will inherit most of West Orange High’s current territory, limiting West Orange High to Oakland, most of Winter Garden and bits of Ocoee and unincorporated Orange County.

All seven School Board members present March 8 approved this rezone.

The other rezone will shift the borders of Dr. Phillips, MetroWest, Palm Lake, Windermere and Windy Ridge elementary zones, based on a new elementary school near MetroWest Elementary.

The only School Board member present who voted against this rezone was Chairman Bill Sublette.

Both new schools are scheduled to open in August 2017.

HIGH SCHOOLS’ SPORTS SAFETY RECOGNIZED

All 19 OCPS high schools — including Dr. Phillips, Ocoee, Olympia and West Orange — received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School award.

This award focuses on care, injury prevention and treatment. To qualify, athletic programs must: have a positive health care administrative system, coordinate physicals before participation, maintain appropriate facilities and equipment for activity and injury treatment, strategize about injury prevention, address injuries, rehearse emergency actions, offer psychosocial and nutritional counseling and ensure athletes’ and parents’ education of the potential responsibilities and outcomes of sports.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].