Florida Public School Choice Consortium Update
by Kathleen Harris, Administrator of the North and Central FSCRC, Nova Southeastern University
The Florida Public School Choice Consortium has met twice this school year. The first meeting was held in conjunction with the K-12 School Conference at the Caribe Royale in Orlando on Oct 3, 2006. This dinner meeting provided the venue for networking ideas and promising practices related to equitable school choice programs and explored ways to expand the membership and influence of this organization. It was suggested that maintaining a strong partnership with charter and magnet school organizations is critical to developing a consistent political voice. Dr. Rodriguez, the president elect, provided some specific ways to nurture these partnerships.
The second meeting took place in conjunction with the Florida Charter Schools Conference at the Wyndham Resort, Orlando. This meeting was generously sponsored my Academica, a well known charter school provider. The luncheon meeting provided the venue for conversation among the VPSC grant sites and discussion about the issues posed by the new state authorizing agency for charter schools.
The group had a chance to say goodbye and thank you to Virginia Gentles who is leaving her position as the Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. It was also Virginia’s birthday so the cake provided by the FSCRC at Nova Southeastern served a dual role. This was also an opportunity to congratulate Dr. Carlo Rodriguez on his appointment as Virginia’s replacement. Her good work to provide an avenue for networking among all Florida school options will continue with Carlo.
One point of conversation at this meeting concerned the incentives for builders to provide not only land for future schools but the buildings as well. Further information about these incentives will be posted on the http://www.fpscc.net in a new section to be titled, Links and Resources. We always want to hear about the issues you would like addressed at the meetings. Send agenda items to harriska@nsu.nova.edu.
UPCOMING FPSCC EVENTS:
January 12, 2007, Hyatt Regency, Miami: Person responsible Kelly Daniels
Southern Region FPSCC meeting in conjunction with the Small Schools Workshop's Conference. Breakfast meeting will be from 9:00 AM-12:00PM we welcome all Mentee/Menor VPSC sites, FPSCC members and interested parties. Please RSVP to harriska@nsu.nova.edu.
January 24, 2007, Nova Southeastern University, 9503 Princess Palm Avenue, Tampa FL 33619. Person responsible : Carolyn Finch
9:00AM-11:00 AM (in conjunction with Charter Schools Authorizers luncheon meeting at same location, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM) Please RSVP for one or both sessions to harriska@nsu.nova.edu
February 1, 2007 , 10:00 AM-1:00 PM luncheon meeting at Ramada Conference Center, 2900 N. Monroe St (1-10 and exit 199 US Hwy 27), Tallahassee FL. Person Responsible.: Kathy Isrealson. 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM
You can check out a list of other upcoming events at http://www.schoolofed.nova.edu/choice