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School Feels Opening Pains

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By MICHELE SAGER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2007

UNIVERSITY AREA - Facing concerns about security, a stack of late payment notices and a shortage of students, leaders for Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High this week discussed the pains that come with opening a new school.
School board members met Tuesday to discuss the details of what needed to get done, starting with security. Board members met with a Tampa police officer who told them they needed to fence in their parking lot to prevent high-speed cut-through traffic between Fowler Avenue and 15th Street.

He also recommended they hire a security officer to help handle the discipline and safety problems that arise on a school campus. Most public schools use school resource officers hired through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office or Tampa Police Department. A sworn officer would cost the high school as much as $55,000 a year. Board members said a private security company would be less expensive and more suited for a school with fewer than 200 students.

Board members also spent a good portion of the meeting discussing budget issues and a stack of invoices that need payment. As they scanned budget reports, the members discovered numerous problems, including expenses that were higher than initial estimates and duplicate billing by construction companies.

The charter high school, started by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, also faces a budget crunch because it will receive less money than first anticipated because of a shortage of students. Leaders had hoped to recruit 300 students, but the 20-day enrollment count reported 189 students.

That 20-day number is used by the state Department of Education to determine funding. Principal Phildra Swagger said board members still must determine how the funding shortfall will affect the school. Board members are expected to meet within a week to itemize the budget.

One concern Brooks plans to deal with as soon as possible is meeting with the school employees. The staff has wanted to meet with the board and especially the school's founder to discuss the school's vision, but scheduling conflicts have prevented the meeting.

Brooks immediately pulled out his planner and said he wanted the meeting scheduled.

'I want to get this meeting done,' he said. 'I don't want the staff thinking I don't care about them or their concerns.'

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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