Public Meeting Scheduled for Proposed Charter School Relocation

By: Sharon Aron Baron

The City of Coral Springs is hosting a public meeting regarding the potential relocation of the charter school to Betti Stradling Park.

On Thursday, August 3, at  6 p.m., the city will be sharing information and then will take questions and comments from residents.

Details of the proposed Charter School Relocation:

The school has been in its current location on Sample and University since 1999. The new location of the charter school is being proposed on part of a public park north of Wiles Road and east of Coral Springs Drive.  The school is owned and operated by the City of Coral Springs and the city holds the charter. The city also owns the land and the building at the existing location. Under one potential arrangement, the city would lease the land in the Betti Stradling parking lot to the Coral Springs charter school.

Proposed plan for charter school to be located in public park

The city currently contracts with Charter Schools USA for the operation of the charter school. CSUSA would continue to operate the school on the city’s behalf as well as serve as the “landlord” for the school. Charter Schools USA would fund and finance the costs of constructing the school building and the parking garage, if required. CSUSA would then lease the building to the Coral Springs Charter School.  According to the city, no tax dollars would be utilized to fund the transaction.

According to information that went out to residents within 400 feet of Betti Stradling Park, the city chose the location because of its proximity to playing fields. They are considering conversion of the two softball fields to a soccer/football and track field that would be available to the community when not in use by the school. The contention of the city is that since the city already owns this property, the cost of the overall project is reduced, allowing more dollars to be invested into school operations.

A traffic study is pending at this time.

The meeting will be held at Coral Springs Charter School Auditorium 3205 N. University Drive.