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USF Signs Over School

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: March 25, 2009

USF CAMPUS - The board of directors of the USF Patel Charter School Inc. voted unanimously to dissolve the state corporation responsible for the school.

The formal action, required by state statute, officially documents the University of South Florida's College of Education's exit in July from operations of the school. The Hillsborough County school district then took over the school on the USF campus, designating it the USF Patel Partnership School.

With the dissolution, about $229,000 remaining in the school's treasury also will be transferred to the district.

The charter school's board agreed at its July 29 meeting to turn over the 10-year-old school because university leaders said they lacked the resources to meet the needs of the students. The first charter school in the nation run by a public university, USF Patel Charter School had received a grade of "D" from the state in 2005 and an "F" in 2008.

At a 20-minute meeting March 19, Colleen Kennedy, dean of the College of Education, told board members she had worked with Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia and a transition team.

She had discussed the transition with major donors, including Sweetbay Supermarkets, and that a Sweetbay project focusing on fitness and nutrition research would continue.

Ralph Wilcox, the university's provost and the charter school board president, told the board that he was "absolutely sure this was a wise decision with the best interest of the children."

Following the meeting, Kennedy said the USF College of Education would continue to work with USF Patel Partnership School in terms of training for teachers and academic enhancement for students. The college also works with Pizzo Elementary on the university campus.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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