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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 02 13 Consent 203 Resolution 2012-07 Support of Keeth Elementary SchoolCOMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 203 February 13, 2012 Regular Meeting Informational Consent X Public Hearings Regular KS City Manager Department REQUEST: City Manager requesting the Commission approve Resolution 2012 -07 in support of Keeth Elementary School. SYNOPSIS: Recently, the Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) staff and Board have indicated that they are considering closing one or more elementary schools to help address their current budget shortfall. It is estimated by SCPS staff that closing of an elementary school will save the district approx. $1 million (per school). The SCPS staff has further indicated that Keeth Elementary is ranked second in priority on a list of potential closings. The Mayor and Commission have previously verbally expressed their support of Keeth Elementary remaining open and operational. Resolution 2012 -07 memorializes that support. CONSIDERATIONS: Seminole County Public Schools staff have indicated that they have established criteria to evaluate schools for potential closing to include student population, necessary facility repairs, transportation costs, and reapportionment /rezoning impacts. With this in mind, it is important that consideration be given to the following relevant and applicable data: Currently, 469 new homes are currently under various phases of construction in the City of Winter Springs, in close proximity to Keeth Elementary School. These are firm developments capable of providing new students within the next school year. Future plans for the Winter Springs Town Center call for approximately 1,500 more, which would directly impact and provide additional student population to Keeth Consent 203 PAGE 1 OF 3 - February 13, 2012 Elementary School. At an estimated student generation rate of 0.2, this equates to close to 100 new students in short order and upwards of 300 more students in the future. The prior re- zoning of a large contingent of Winter Springs students, who live in close proximity to Keeth Elementary School, to Lawton Elementary School in Oviedo directly contributes to the reported deficiency in student population at Keeth Elementary School. Further, the Winter Springs community was disrupted by the closing and reapportionment of Longwood Elementary School students to various Winter Springs Schools just this past year, and further reapportionment of Keeth students would again unjustly disrupt the lives of residents of the Winter Springs Community. Other noteworthy factors warranting consideration include: • Keeth Elementary School has received a variety of recognitions and awards including: • "A" rated school for the past nine consecutive years, • Highest writing scores in Seminole County and the 4th highest scores in the State of Florida in 4th Grade FCAT Writes for 2010 -2011, • The Florida Department of Education Five Star School Award for exemplary programs that integrate the school and community involvement, • Keeth Elementary has strong parent and community support with over 12,000 volunteer hours logged, and an active PTA that has received numerous annual awards from the Seminole County Council of PTAs. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with approval of this Resolution. COMMUNICATION EFFORTS: This Agenda Item has been electronically forwarded to the Mayor and City Commission, City Manager, City Attorney /Staff, and is available on the City's Website, LaserFiche, and the City's Server. Additionally, portions of this Agenda Item are typed verbatim on the respective Meeting Agenda which has also been electronically forwarded to the individuals noted above, and which is also available on the City's Website, LaserFiche, and the City's Server; has been sent to applicable City Staff, Media/Press Representatives who have requested Agendas /Agenda Item information, Homeowner's Associations /Representatives on file with the City, and all individuals who have requested such information. This information has also been posted outside City Hall, posted inside City Hall with additional copies available for the General Public, and posted at five (5) different locations around the City. Furthermore, this information is also available to any individual requestors. City Staff is always willing to discuss this Agenda Item or any Agenda Item with any interested individuals. A copy of this Resolution wil be forwarded to the Seminole County School Board Chair upon adoption by the Commission. RECOMMENDATION: The City Manager recommends that the City Commission adopt Resolution 2012 -07 in support of Keeth Elementary School. Consent 203 PAGE 2 OF 3 - February 13, 2012 ATTACHMENTS: e Resolution 2012 -07. Consent 203 PAGE 3 OF 3 - February 13, 2012 RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -07 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING THE CITY COMMISSION'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUED, UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF KEITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO DELIVER A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School is an integral part of the Winter Springs Community; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School been an "A" rated school for the past nine consecutive years; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School had the highest writing scores in Seminole County and the 4th highest scores in the State of Florida in 4th Grade FCAT Writes for 2010 -2011; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School has received the Florida Department of Education Five Star School Award for exemplary programs that integrate the school and community involvement; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School has strong parent and community support with over 12,000 volunteer hours logged; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School has an active PTA that has received numerous annual awards from the Seminole County Council of PTAs; and WHEREAS, the School Board of Seminole County is currently considering and reviewing options to address their upcoming projected budget shortfall, to include the potential suspension of operations or closing of one or more schools, including Keeth Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the School Board of Seminole County has established criteria to evaluate those schools for potential suspension of operations or closing to include student population, necessary facility repairs, transportation costs, and reapportionment /rezoning impacts; and WHEREAS, the School Board of Seminole County has indicated that Keeth Elementary is ranked second highest on a list of schools under consideration for potential suspension of operations or closing, and WHEREAS, approximately 469 new homes are currently under various phases of construction in the City of Winter Springs, in close proximity to Keeth Elementary School, with plans for approximately 1,500 more, which would directly impact and provide additional student population to Keeth Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the prior reapportionment of a large contingent of Winter Springs' students living in homes within the City limits of Winter Springs from Keeth Elemetary School to Lawton Elementary School in Oviedo directly contributes to the reported deficiency in student population at Keeth Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the Winter Springs community was disrupted by the closing and reapportionment of Longwood Elementary School students to Winter Springs Schools just this past year, and further reapportionment of Keeth students would again unjustly disrupt the lives of residents of the Winter Springs Community; and WHEREAS, the temporary suspension of operations or permanent closing of Keeth Elemetary School would have a overall dramatic negative impact on our community, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, THAT Section I. The City Commission hereby expresses its strong support for the continued, uninterrupted operation of Keeth Elementary School located in the City of Winter Springs. Section II. The City Commission encourages the Seminole County School Board to consider all applicable and relevant data, including the information provided in this Resolution, in its evaluation of the potential suspension of operations or closing of schools, including Keeth Elementary School. Section III. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the City Commission. Upon approval of this Resolution by the City Commission, the Mayor is hereby authorized to forward a copy of this Resolution to the Seminole County School Board. Passed and adopted this day of 2012. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA CHARLES LACEY, MAYOR ATTEST: ANDREA LORENZO- LUACES, CITY CLERK RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -07 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING THE CITY COMMISSION'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUED, UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF KEETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO DELIVER A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School is an integral part of the Winter Springs Community; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School been an "A" rated school for the past nine consecutive years; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School had the highest writing scores in Seminole County and the 4th highest scores in the State of Florida in 4th Grade FCAT Writes for 2010 -2011; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School has received the Florida Department of Education Five Star School Award for exemplary programs that integrate the school and community involvement; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School has strong parent and community support with over 12,000 volunteer hours logged; and WHEREAS, Keeth Elementary School has an active PTA that has received numerous annual awards from the Seminole County Council of PTAs; and WHEREAS, the School Board of Seminole County is currently considering and reviewing options to address their upcoming projected budget shortfall, to include the potential suspension of operations or closing of one or more schools, including Keeth Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the School Board of Seminole County has established criteria to evaluate those schools for potential suspension of operations or closing to include student population, necessary facility repairs, transportation costs, and reapportionment/rezoning impacts; and WHEREAS, the School Board of Seminole County has indicated that Keeth Elementary is ranked second highest on a list of schools under consideration for potential suspension of operations or closing, and WHEREAS, approximately 469 new homes are currently under various phases of construction in the City of Winter Springs, in close proximity to Keeth Elementary School, with plans for approximately 1,500 more, which would directly impact and provide additional student population to Keeth Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the prior reapportionment of a large contingent of Winter Springs' students living in homes within the City limits of Winter Springs from Keeth Elemetary School to Lawton Elementary School in Oviedo directly contributes to the reported deficiency in student population at Keeth Elementary School; and WHEREAS, the Winter Springs community was disrupted by the closing and reapportionment of Longwood Elementary School students to Winter Springs Schools just this past year, and further reapportionment of Keeth students would again unjustly disrupt the lives of residents of the Winter Springs Community; and WHEREAS, the temporary suspension of operations or permanent closing of Keeth Elemetary School would have a overall dramatic negative impact on our community, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, THAT Section I. The City Commission hereby expresses its strong support for the continued, uninterrupted operation of Keeth Elementary School located in the City of Winter Springs. Section II. The City Commission encourages the Seminole County School Board to consider all applicable and relevant data, including the information provided in this Resolution, in its evaluation of the potential suspension of operations or closing of schools, including Keeth Elementary School. Section III. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the City Commission. Upon approval of this Resolution by the City Commission, the Mayor is hereby authorized to forward a copy of this Resolution to the Seminole County School Board. Passed and adopted this 13 day of February 2012. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA CHARLES LACEY, - R ATTEST: r�. A , • RENZO - LUACES, CITY CLERK