Villages Charter Schools

[Frangyomory]

Can someone tell me why the Charter Schools are only open to Villages employees? Nationwide, Charter Schools are not allowed to give priority to any specific group and I can't understand how the Villages Charter School can set this type priority. :dontknow:

[Bucco]

I believe but not positive that Charter Schools may set individual requirements for eligibility to any standards they feel will meet their charter !
From my understanding there was much thought given to the beginnings of these school in order to attract top quality folks to work in the Villages !

[renielarson]

Charter Schools are allowed to give priority. Here is the Florida Department of Education's Charter Schools FAQ page:

http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Charter_Schools/faqs.asp

[Frangyomory]

I cannot thank you enough for this information. Really opened my eyes to how Charter schools work. Thank you so very much.

[villages07]

Here's the website for the schools. See the history and enrollment tabs for more info about the charter setup.

http://www.thevillagescharterschool.org/

[renielarson]

Fran

You are so very welcome. As a teacher who once taught in a Charter School, I am hoping The Village's Charter Elementary School is run more professionally and honestly than the one at which I taught.

The Charter School I was at did not use state funding appropriately by not supplying staff with supplies, students with textbooks, or require that all teachers be qualified. I not only reported them to the State of Michigan but had private meetings with state officials.

Sadly, there is a lot of red tape when investigating reports like mine and the process can take years (At least it did when I was involved.).

While in my 3rd year of teaching there and having it up to my eyebrows with dishonesty, I went into the principal's office at noon one October day, feigned illness, and walked out. I only returned 3 days later to pack up my stuff and happily left for good. Luckily, I was hired by another district within 3 days and have been teaching in a wonderful school and district for the past 10 years.

The Villages appears to always do things topnotch so I'm expecting their school to be operated in the same manner. I was just unfortunate to have a bad experience with a Charter School so am not a big fan to this day.

[gemorc]

The charter schools in MI are sponsored by a state university. Most of the schools are operated by corporations and are there to make a PROFIT for these corporations. The state set different rules and reporting methods than the state public schools. It was common knowledge that then governor, John Engler, pushed through the legislation to counter the teachers union in MI.I don't know how FL has set up their charters but in MI, the quality of education varies greatly between charter schools. And because of the reporting procedures, it is very hard to assess financial responsibility.

[renielarson]

gemorc

Correct...sponsored by Michigan State University. I know...because I had many private meetings there with the Charter School Educational Office.

The charter school I taught at was set up by a church minister who established a corporation to do so. His prime concern was to take care of his family financially. His mother was hired to run the day care in our school, his brother was the head of custodianship, his sister was the principal. It was a family business to say the least and they all drove Lincoln Continentals and lived in beautiful homes...far above the standard of living for most school teachers.

Yet our children had no textbooks, pencils, paper, etc. We teachers were expected to meet state curriculum objectives using whatever means we could come up with and out of our own pocketbooks.

You would think I could put this behind me but I can't. I continue to get updates on Michigan Charter Schools and the one I taught at is still in business. What smart people those crooks are.

[renielarson]

I need to say one last thing...

I'm not against Charter Schools, private schools, or any other alternative schools. If children are best served by alternative education then I'm a proponent of it...if it is run legally and within the guidelines set.

I'm against shorting our children what they are entitled to and deserve.

I'm against anyone using funds inappropriately.

I am an advocate for children and their best interest.

[gemorc]

I need to say one last thing...

I'm not against Charter Schools, private schools, or any other alternative schools. If children are best served by alternative education then I'm a proponent of it...if it is run legally and within the guidelines set.

I'm against shorting our children what they are entitled to and deserve.

I'm against anyone using funds inappropriately.

I am an advocate for children and their best interest.
:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:

[SteveZ]

Just an observation. The Villages Charter School seems as if it has a discipline advantage which can cut down the rowdiness and rudeness so prevalent in many publilc schools. If the child becomes a discipline problem, you can always fire the parent, which will in most cases result in the child "self-expelling." That's one way to have parents actually "parent." Don't know if this is the practice, but is seems highly possible.

[Muncle]

I don't know what the criteria for admission to the Charter Schools are, but the parent(s) does not have to be a direct employee of TV. I had a carpenter working at my place --- self-employed, not tied to any company, not associated with TV in any way --- who had a son in the high school. Guy built me a sensational bookshelf. My landscaper's son was in the grade school. Also, there seems to be a bit of movement between TV schools and Wildwood schools. And, though the school is part of the Sumter Co school district and funded at least partially through them, it has students from all three local counties, a bit to the chagrin of Sumter Co school board folks.

[graciegirl]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote from: brightspot01 on April 28, 2008, 07:11:21 PM
I need to say one last thing...

"I'm not against Charter Schools, private schools, or any other alternative schools. If children are best served by alternative education then I'm a proponent of it...if it is run legally and within the guidelines set.

I'm against shorting our children what they are entitled to and deserve.

I'm against anyone using funds inappropriately.

I am an advocate for children and their best interest."



:agree: :agree: :agree:I absolutely agree. In my set of values, it is just below my love for my family.

(If I could only figure out the quotes thing. I either get my comments in the quotes or it doesn't work at all)

[villages07]

Muncle,

From their website. I imagine your carpenter and landscaper fell into one of these categories.

Enrollment

The VillagesCharter School(K-12) operates by a Charter Agreement approved by the Sumter County Board of Education and the Florida State Department of Education. Unlike traditional county schools, our enrollment criteria are based upon one of the parents/guardians/ place of employment rather than geographic address of their home.

Qualifying Employment

Employment is verified on each new applicant, and will be verified on a quarterly basis for all enrolled students.

Category I - Direct employee of The Villages

Category II -Employee of a Direct Sub-Contractor of The Villages. Employee must receive a W-2 form from the sub-contractor. Sub-Contractor's who are paid by residents or businesses of The Villages do not qualify. Sub-Contractor's who do not have a direct contract with The Villages do not qualify.

Category III-Employee of a business on Villages Property.

Please call the Enrollment Office (352-259-2350) to determine if a business is qualified for enrollment.

Parents who work full-time (40 hours per week) are given priority over parents who work part-time (less than 40 hours per week).

[Bucco]

From their website. I imagine your carpenter and landscaper fell into one of these categories.
__________________________________________________ __________________

Just for balance:) it also applies to the Doctors and nurses at the hospital; the engineers throughout the Villages and such !