A Public Charter Elementary School For Key Biscayne
EDUCATIONAL BUILDING: This building is one of three existing structures that would be leased to non-profit Mater Academy for a public charter elementary school on the campus of Crossbridge Church Key Biscayne. The existing two-story preschool building would not be part of the lease and will continue to operate with no changes to staff or curricula.
There have been some questions about the newly announced kindergarten through fifth grade charter elementary school that is coming to Key Biscayne at Crossbridge Church. I wanted to provide accurate information about how this PUBLIC charter school is good for Key Biscayne.
Main points:
1. This is a public school. The entity running it is a nonprofit, Mater Academy, which has a good educational record.
2. This school has a geographic preference for a 1.5 - to - 2 mile radius around the school.
3. It does not “take money away” from the K-8 school. It opens an option for parents and benefits all taxpayers.
4. It is not a zero sum game. It is likely that total tax dollars flowing to the island for education will increase, not decrease.
5. No new buildings are being constructed. The maximum capacity in existing buildings would be about 300 students.
As a candidate for Village Council, I think it is important for you to know that not only do I support the new charter school but, as an elder (board member) at Crossbridge Church Key Biscayne, I was one of several people who worked diligently for more than a year to bring this school to fruition.
Let me explain why:
First and foremost, I am a strong proponent of education and of ensuring families of Key Biscayne have the best options available to educate their children. Of all the potential uses of the Crossbridge property, a school was the best fit to serve a community need. Currently, our community has more students than classroom space available. In all too many cases, Key Biscayne parents find themselves driving a significant distance from the island (or putting kids on buses) and paying a significant price in time, energy, and tuition, simply to give their children a quality education. This school is an attempt to help some of those parents with another choice.
Second, because charter schools are public schools, they operate under a contract with the Miami-Dade Public Schools, and this charter stipulates that the school may limit the enrollment process to target students residing within a reasonable distance of the school (1.5 to 2 mies)
I was asked by Senior Pastor Felipe Assis to investigate potential charter school operators because of good experience Crossbridge has had at another campus with a charter lease. After an extensive search and lengthy interviews, church leaders settled on Mater Academy, and the members of the congregation have now approved this choice. Mater has experience in working with many other churches (as a secular non-profit) and it has a strong academic record. Moreover, Mater’s vision of an environmental stewardship focus for the school meshes with a similar vision at the existing preschool (which will continue to operate as before with no change to staff or curricula).
The pastors, elders, and members of Crossbridge Church view this as a significant means of loving you, our neighbors. I know that they have taken this project seriously and have done due diligence to ensure the new charter school at Crossbridge Key Biscayne provides the highest quality education to our community.
Key Biscayne’s mayor, village managers, and other members of council were previously made aware the church was considering a charter school on the campus (in some cases, for more than a year). The church assured them that Crossbridge is a community focused, city positive institution, and the resources generated by this lease will help us better serve the community we are here to love.
If you have any questions, concerns or comments, I am more than happy to address them. Thank you again for the ongoing dialogue with regard to this important issue.