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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #03 Emergency Item - Attorney for Rezoning of Schools Emergency Item for meeting January 30, 2007 6:30 PM Title: Rezoning Ocoee High School Students to Apopka I'm proposing that the city underwrite the expenses of James A.Gustino an attorney to fight the rezoning of any Ocoee High School students to the Apopka Relief School. A retainer fee of $5,000 has been requested. This would be reimbursed out of an account that has been set up for friends of OHS to donate funds. This rezoning not only affects property values of the citizens involved, but the long term values of taxable property that the city will receive in the future. Thanks for caring mayorscott Following information: Discuses why.. ... Date for filing is before next regular meeting.. .. Mayor: - By the way, the deadline for filinQ an administrative challenQe is very. very short. We have to file a lawsuit within 10 days of last niaht if we are aoina to pursue a leaal challenae. AccordinQly, YOU and your constituents/supporters need to meet ASAP on this issue and determine your commitment to pursuinQ a challenQe. - Also, the lawsuit must be filed by parents with children affected by the adverse School Board decision. My sUQQestion is to attempt to work throuQh the homeowners associations for the neiQhborhoods affected; they Qenerally have deeper pockets than individual families. - Best. Jim James A. Gustino Florida Bar No. 612499 James A. Gustino, P.A. P.O. Box 770759 Winter Garden, Florida 34777 407.905.8820 - telephone 407.905.9211 - facsimile ----- Original Message ----- From: Winn2692~aol.com To: mavorscott~mavorscott.orq Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 4:59 PM Subject: (no subject) Mayor Scott. My name is Linda, and today when my son got home from school [he is in the 8th grade at Ocoee middle] he was so up set ,because they gave out news paper for Ocoee high school and papers for them to fill out for next year, where my son is suppose to go, but instead they are trying to send him and 249 other kids to Apopka. Tonight they are having an 8th grade meeting at Ocoee High School to show the kids around and all that. How do you think these kids feel not knowing and not being with there friends. This is a sad time for them instead of a happy one. I know your doing what you can, but you know I don,t know how to comfort my own child with this problem. He was with us 2 years ago fighting for my daughter to stay in Ocoee and here we are again, splitting up family ties to their school. My son has played in Ocoee Little League for his 9th season. He wanted to continue to play for his home town high school,and now he may have to play for a town that he knows no one and a schools he considers not his. I am afraid of what this is going to do to his grades which is very good now. HELP. Thank you, Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: Villane. Patricia A. To: CFN 13 ; A+ Parent-Anqela Pittman-Leath; Apopka Chief; ASCD Smartbrief ; Carlos Molina: Manaqinq Editor-EI Nuevo Dia ; Central Florida Advocate; Deb Wood -Southwest Bulletin; Donal Huzzie-Central Florida Advocate; East Orlando Sun; EI Nuevo Dia ; Erika Hobbs-Orlando Sentinel; Florida Courier; Florida Sun-Orlando Review-James Madison; FSBA Executive Director-Wavne Blanton; FSBA Leaders Editor-Andv Williams; Greq Miller-Orlando Sentinel; Hector Torres-La Nueva; Henry Duvall-Urban Educator; Insiqht East Orlando; Jane Healv- Orlando Sentinel; Jeff Marshall-Metro Networks-Orlando; Jim Clark-Orlando Maqazine ; Joe Rassel-Orlando Sentinel; Jose Dieppa-Univision WVEN TV ; Judith Smelser-WMFE ; Justine Florez-Reqional Field. FDOE ; Kathv Marsh-WESH-TV; Kristen Stieffel-Orlando Business Journal; La Nueva. WNUE ; LaPrensa ; Leslie Postal-Orlando Sentinel; Lisa Holm-WKMG ; Lorena Arias-WOFL TV; Maqda Ivette Torres-En Aqenda Talk Show; Maria Hernandez- Telemundo ; Mavor Scott Vanderqrift-Ocoee ; Metro News Orlando; Mike Griffin-Orlando Sentinel; Monica Mav-Star 94.5 ; Nancv James-EDC; NEWS 13; News Near Bv; Oranqe County Homeowners Assoc. ; Oranqe County Internet News; Orlando Reqional Chamber-Lisa Winkelbauer; Orlando Sentinel.Com ; Orlando Times; Pine Hills Press; Sam Knapp-WKMG ; Sharon McBreen-Orlando Sentinel; Sonia Chopra-Freelance Writer; South Oranqe News; Southwest Bulletin; Susan Jacobson-Orlando Sentinel; Telemundo ; Telemundo- Claribel Collazo; Telemundo-Emilio Gracias ; The Pine Hills News; Tonva Harris-Urban Educator; Univision. WVEN TV; Univision. WVEN TV; Walter Pacheco-Sentinel; WDBO; WESH-TV; West Oranqe Times; WFLA ; WFTV News Desk; Winter Park-Maitland Observer; WKMG ; WMFE; WOFL-FOX 35; WVEN-TV Channel 26 Sent: Wednesday, January 24,200712:01 AM Subject: School Board Highlights -- January 23 NEWS RELEASE News from Orange County Public Schools School Board Meeting Highlights The Orange County School Board met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. and here are highlights ofthe January 23, 2007, meeting: Attendance zones set for Apopka High Relief and GothalLakeview Middle Relief The school board held a public hearing to receive community input on the recommended attendance zones for new schools that will relieve Apopka High and GothalLakeview Middle. After listening to parents and community members, the board approved the following: .:. To adopt the advertised proposal for the Apopka Hi!!:h Relief School, which is scheduled to open in Au!!:ust 2007; however, the board approved a motion to direct the superintendent and staff to brin!!: back more detailed information on two areas of the advertised map for further consideration; and also approved a motion for the superintendent and staff to bring back at a future board meeting an analysis of the financial impact to the district of "junior privilege" - that is, allowing juniors to finish 11 th and lih grades at their present high school .:. To adopt the advertised Superintendent's Staff Recommendation for the GothalLakeview Middle Relief School, which will open in August 2007. The adopted plan will provide greater relief for Gotha Middle, decreasing its student population from 1,551 to 1,229. Board approves changes to student attendance policies The board also held a public hearing for public comment on the district's student attendance policies. New 2006 state legislation toughens school attendance laws and makes the policy revisions necessary. The legislation was pushed for by the Orange County School Board - especially Vice Chairman Jim Martin, who was chair of the board's School Attendance Committee last year. The legislation will allow school boards to develop/revise policies to crack down on truancy, as well as unexcused absences. Under the tougher attendance guidelines, students who have reached the age of 16 and have not graduated are subject to compulsory school attendance under certain circumstances. Another major change is that, in cases of truancy and habitual truancy that are referred for action by the child study team, tardies may be counted as unexcused absences. For truancy purposes in child study team documentation, five tardies to school will equal one excused absence. District policy states that the principal has the authority to determine whether an absence is excused. OCPS has been praised for lowering its dropout rate, which at 1.9 percent, is lower than the state's average of3.5 percent. After discussion, the board voted to approve the reVISIOns. These are the highlights of the Jan. 23 meeting. The public is encouraged to attend school board meetings, which are held in the School Board Meeting Room of the Educational Leadership Center, 445 W. Amelia St. in downtown Orlando. The board normally meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call School Board Services at 407.317.3236. Dylan Thomas/Patty Villane Community Relations 407.317.3237 The School Board of Orange County, Florida does not discriminate in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, disability or any other reason prohibited by law. The Equal Opportunity supervisor responsible for compliance is Patricia R. Brown, Labor Relations, who may be contacted at the Educational Leadership Center, 445 W. Amelia Street, Orlando, Florida 32801, 407-317-3322. I think this is the fastest the school board ever got out a press release, I got it at 12:01 AM this morning. My impression of the adoption was that only a small peice that borders our normal zone will be considered for inclusion that would send Winter Garden, Lakeview Middle School feeder back to West Orange. Call me 407 299 5598 Thanks for caring The bold underlined part of the press release above has nothina to do with the portion of Ocoee that is assianed to Apopka Relief school. It is a add on. Or "Tweak" to the zonina map that effects students beina transprted to lakeview Middle school currentlv aoina to Ocoee that will be moved back to West Oranae Hiah School that live in Winter Garden within % mile of OHS. Mr. Martin. I attended the school board meeting last night and let me say that I am very upset with the outcome. I did not enjoy coming home and telling my son that he will have to change High Schools next year, and leave his friends from an area that he has known all of his life. I am also very upset that you, as an elected official (that I voted for), did nothing during the meeting to ease the fears and concerns of the parents and students in your district. Mr. Roach did a much better job supporting us and he does not even represent our district! It appeared very clear to us parents in attendance last night that the board had already decided on the "advertised" map and had no intentions of reviewing it. Several parents did send you options for redoing the borders, but each was systematically rejected with a list of excuses on why they would not work. I suggested that the area east of Dorcher and north of 50 go to Evans. Your excuse was that Evans was a failing school and that those kids would only use the Voucher and go to Ocoee anyway. What that really means is that you are pulling kids from Pine Hills to Ocoee and forcing my Son to go to a school outside of the feeder pattern and away from Ocoee. The only decent thing you did last night was to put in a motion regarding Junior privilege. I sincerly hope this passes as this would benefit my son. I was also upset with Mrs. Gordon's "speech" during the board discussions. She fell short of calling us stupid and ignorant. She made us feel as if we were the ones at fault for the rezoning. Her comment regarding parents coming in wearing Black and Gold was clearly uncalled for. These were Parents and Students who are proud ofthier school and what the school has accomplished! These were parents that have invested time and money in thier school. These were parents whose children play on the Sports Teams or play in the band. These were parents trying to do what was right for thier children and for thier community. The one thing that was not discussed during the meeting, which I brought up during my time was the safety of our children in the new school. As I stated, during the first year at Ocoee, the police were called in numerous times to break up skirmishes. This was caused by putting students from two rival schools together. The Apopka relief will be putting 4 rival schools together. You were more concerend about securing portables than our child's safety at the new school. Pupil assignment only looked at numbers when they redrew the lines! There were originally three advertised options. Only one was shown last night. All three adverstised options were almost identical with the exception of the north and north east borders. She seemed to bumble through her numbers when the board asked her questions. In the future, I think that there should be public representation during the redrawing of school boundries. Not the here is the map, love it or leave it! And lastly, I don't understand how Olympia was able to enlarge but no other school can. I don't understand how they managed to get $7 million dollars that was not even on the books last year. The board was concerned about the cost of busing Juniors and Seniors but was not concerned about that $7 Million. Or did Olympia get the money because it was in Mrs. Ardamans district. And if that was the case, why did you not fight to enlarge Ocoee instead of rezoning and breaking up a community! Wednesday, January 24,2007 RE: Re-Zoning Meeting for Apopka Relief School Members of the Orange County School Board: Thank you for taking the time to listen to the concerns voiced by the members of our community at last night's meeting (January 23, 2007). As you can see, although we represent only a small portion of our community, we are passionate about this particular reZOnIng Issue. I understand you have chosen to table this issue to be discussed at length at another time. Thank you for taking a step in the right direction with your willingness to discuss it further. I would respectfully request that as you prepare for that discussion, you consider the following points: 1. Publicitv and Notification. A. It appears obvious from the evidence presented at each meeting that the residents of our community were not properly notified of any meetings involving this rezoning issue. Ironically, those who might have been able to further support this evidence were not in attendance at the meetings because of lack of notification. I have personally not received any of the phone calls or literature that was to be disseminated to the communities for each meeting. In speaking with my neighbors, I have not encountered a single individual who did receive notification. To date, most of the members of the community are being notified via email newsletters and word of mouth initiated by Mayor Vandergrift and other concerned citizens. B. Ms. Simpson made refereJ)ce in her comments during the January 23rd meeting that the community drew the zoning lines. This is an inaccurate statement. Not only was the decision made for OCPS to draw the initial boundary lines, but the input received from the community was reflective of residents of Apopka. Those affected in the Ocoee area were not even aware we were being included in are-zoning. Consequently, any input you received is skewed to reflect only the interests of those residing north of McCormick Road. C. Throughout this process, the relief school has been referred to as the "Apopka Relief School". The zoning meeting was held at Apopka High School. This further supports the assumption that the new school affects only Apopka residents. I found it interesting that the information packet disbursed at the January 23rd meeting now identifies the new school as "Apopka Ocoee Relief HS". While this change may have been an attempt to clarify for residents the purpose of the school, some may argue that it was political backpedaling. 2. Disruvtion of Community. The re-zoning boundaries as they now stand severely disrupt the continuity of our community and isolate us from all other community activities and associations. A. Current feeder patterns show Clarcona Elementary feeding into Ocoee Middle School and Ocoee Middle School feeding into Ocoee High School. The new feeder pattern will remove our community from that natural progression. Our students, beginning in 9th grade, will be segregated from every peer with which they have attended elementary and middle school and will be forced to attend a high school with peers with which they have no established relationship. B. Rather than drawing north-south boundary lines along a main road, the decision has been made to draw the line at Hackney Prairie Road. Please take the time to drive this road. It is a two lane road with a 25 mile per hour speed limit. Children cross this road often to play at the small park located on the road. Neighbors on either side of the road interact with each other on a regular basis. Even more importantly, drawing the boundary lines down this road divides a neighborhood in two. The larger section of the Remington Oaks neighborhood is located north of Hackney Prairie Road, with the smaller portion of the community on the south side. The smaller section also contains the neighborhood pool and recreational facilities. Dividing this neighborhood in half simply makes no sense. C. You have been supplied with ample evidence that every activity and event with which the affected families are involved lies within the current Ocoee High School zoning boundaries. By re-zoning these students, they are not only taken from their peer group at school, they are removed from their sports peer groups, their religious peer groups, and virtually every community association in which they are now involved. Two years, ago, when our community was re-zoned for Ocoee High School, the transition was relatively smooth. The reason for this is the bulk of our community was re-zoned, enabling peer groups to stay together and community continuity to remain intact. Other than a pattern of continual re-zoning, there is little comparison between the Ocoee High School re-zoning and the Apopka Relief School re-zoning. There are many possible results of this re-zoning action, not the least of which is the strong probability that these students will be unable to be successfully mainstreamed into the new relief school. They will be the minority in a sea of over 2,600 students. Our children will represent less than 10% of the total student population, with the majority of the students established in the Apopka area. Our children will be expected to devote their loyalties to the new school, while simultaneously maintaining loyalties to their Ocoee friends and community. This results in a volatile and even dangerous situation for these students. The more vocal and outspoken among our children will run the risk of being involved in fighting, while the more timid will likely be intimidated into submission by the majority of the students. The emotional toll on these children will be tremendous. 3. Future Plannin2 and Growth. It was pointed out at the January 23rd meeting that at some future date an additional middle school and elementary school will be built with the likelihood of our community being re-zoned for those schools. If you are considering this information in weighing your decision, please also consider the following: A. The middle school planned for Ingram Road is currently slated to open in 2010. The middle school and high school students you are considering disrupting now from their community will not be impacted by this school opening as it is three years away at best. B. The elementary school planned for Hackney Prairie Road is also slated for 2010. My information may be inaccurate, but it is my understanding that you have yet to even secure all of the land for this project. Consequently, there is no guarantee that this school site will ever become a reality. If, however, it does become a reality, it is logical that those students within walking distance to the school will attend. The Prairie Lakes neighborhood borders Hackney Prairie Road and will almost certainly be zoned for this school. Yet they are zoned for Ocoee Middle School and Ocoee High School. This is a key site because it demonstrates that there will almost certainly be more re-zoning in our area within the next several years. Wouldn't it be more expedient to allow the current students to remain at their high school until these schools are built and it is determined whether or not the feeder patterns will change? C. I understand there are no "current" plans to re-zone Evans High School. I have heard this stated on many occasions. The word "current" seems to me to be the disclaimer that will be used in the next 1-2 years when we see the reality that we all know is inevitable. Evans will be re-zoned. It is both likely and logical that the section located south of Silver Star Road and east of Apopka- Vineland Road which is currently zoned for Ocoee High School will be re-zoned for Evans. At its farthest point, this section is only 1.2 miles from what is currently the Evans 9th Grade Center and is projected to replace Evans High School. At its closest point, this zoning section is literally across the street from the new high school location. From the farthest point in this section to Ocoee High School, students must travel an unbelievable 10.70 miles one way to school! It is certainly not efficient to bus children such a distance and I was quite shocked during my research to find this area to be included in the Ocoee High School boundaries. Further, the youth in this area do not have ties to the Ocoee area because they follow a completely different feeder pattern. D. You heard from many members of the Winter Garden community at the January 23rd meeting, including their liaison, Matt McLaughlin. It appears unanimous that these residents want their children to remain with their community through high school. They are petitioning the board to discontinue splitting their neighborhoods in half. They wish to continue their feeder pattern from Dillard Elementary to Lakeview Middle School to West Orange High School. This is a win-win situation. I submit that the School Board should grant their petition, which will in turn free up more space for families interested in keeping their children at Ocoee High School. Please consider these logistics and the likely future plans in our area before opting to disrupt the children in our area. It is likely that we will again face a re-zoning in the next few years and it is unreasonable to earmark an established community for such re- zoning activities as often as every two years. 4. Successful Schools. Unlike some in my community, I do not believe Ocoee High School to be the only high school in Orange County, Florida where my children can obtain a superior education. I believe there are good teachers in every school. It is through the combined efforts of teachers, parents, students and community supporters that schools, and consequently individual students, become successful. I am hopeful that the Apopka Relief High School will be just as successful as Ocoee High School is proving to be. The Apopka residents have a great opportunity before them - one to which I believe parents, students and community members will lend their support. Our community, on the other hand, will be missing one critical factor in this pattern of success - community support. Even if our parents and students were to lend their full support to this new school, they would be left without any connection to, or support from their surrounding community. I certainly do not believe the Orange County School Board Members lay awake at night thinking of ways to disrupt communities and emotionally cripple young lives. Unfortunately, this will nonetheless be the result of such re-zoning action. I strongly urge you to weigh carefully the extenuating circumstances surrounding this action and consider revising the zoning boundaries to run along McCormick Road. Should that change show an overcapacity at Ocoee High School, it would be prudent to return the area south of Silver Star Road and east of Apopka- Vineland Road to its logical feeder pattern. This would save money in transportation costs as well as avoiding the disruption of the lives of the young people in our community. Additionally, granting the petition of Crown Pointe residents will enable you to further decrease the numbers at Ocoee High School and make it feasible to retain our community in the current Ocoee High School boundaries. Thank you again for your time. I welcome any comments you wish to share on this matter. Sincerely, Deanne Claiborne 8829 Hackney Prairie Road Spouse: Jack Claiborne Daughter: Courtney (2005 West Orange HS Graduate) Son: Brady (current Ocoee HS senior) Son: Austin (current Ocoee HS freshman) Son: Garrett (current Ocoee MS 7th grader) Son: Tanner (current Clarcona Elementary 4th grader) Community members since 1996 Thanks for caring mayorscott