INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Two traditional elementary schools that one Indian River County School Board member has suggested converting into charter schools won’t be making the switch anytime soon.
“I’m going to stop beating my head against the wall,” said School Board Chair Carol Johnson during a round table discussion amongst her fellow board members Tuesday afternoon. “I’m going to leave it be and walk away.”
Johnson had floated the idea of converting both Dodgertown and Fellsmere elementary schools into charters. Dodgertown Elementary’s student population is in decline, while Fellsmere has been over capacity for years.
Though School Board member Claudia Jimenez said she supports the idea of converting the traditional schools to charters, more focus needs to be on making the traditional schools attractive to students and parents.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Fran Adams told the board that Gov. Rick Scott has begun working with school districts to help increase flexibility within traditional schools. That flexibility is something charter schools have over traditional schools.
Dr. Adams said the district is exploring other options for its schools but is not yet prepared to go into detail as to what those options could consist of.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Teresa D’Albora told the board that some options could include converting to magnet schools – schools of choice that are operated within the School District – creating a school within a school, or establishing a unique focus that would attract students.
One option D’Albora said was absolutely not on the table was rezoning.
Dr. Adams told the board that the district is working with focus groups at various schools to determine courses of action.
“We can’t wait,” she said. “It’s about the students.”
Dr. Adams added that she believes providing a focus to the schools might be the best way to go, as well as making sure there is strong leadership at the schools.
She suggested that performing arts and language curricula have been shown to be successful in schools where there is high levels of poverty. She added that the curricula serve as the hook to get students there, but it’s an issue of parental participation and the cultivation of relationships.