SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – Governor Ron DeSantis visited Sarasota this week to announce rebates for Progressive auto insurance policyholders. After the press conference, the governor took questions. He was asked about the recent expansion of the Schools of Hope Act.
The law was originally designed to help charter operators support underperforming schools. Over the summer, lawmakers gave management companies the ability to use open areas on campuses of public schools with low enrollment.
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“Being able to provide those operators with existing infrastructure that is underutilized makes economic sense, but it also helps attract people,” DeSantis said.
This was the governor’s response to concerns from parents in Sarasota and Manatee counties after they received notice from Miami-based Mater Academy that five public schools would share space.
“Charter schools, they don’t have the right to take students. They have to convince parents that they should send them to charter schools,” DeSantis said.
Sarasota School Board member Tom Edwards opposes allowing charter operators to attach to schools within the district.
“Personally, I think it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money to provide free rent, free food, electricity, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses,” Edwards said.
Sarasota parents opposed to the move are sharing fliers on social media expressing concerns that tax-funded resources such as school buses, cafeterias and classrooms will be stretched too thin.
Martell Academy is operated by the for-profit educational organization Académica.
“I’m a supporter of charter schools, not for-profit charter schools,” Edwards said.
School board members also have ideas for ways the district could resist requests from charter operators.
One method is to move district staff and administrators to schools with unused space. The other option is to add dual language and AI programming to fill the void. A third option would be to ask states to significantly reduce the number of officially available seats.
“I think it’s a matter of house rules,” Edwards said. “I don’t think the city of Tallahassee with a one-size-fits-all law is the best way to deal with an A-rated school district like Sarasota.”
Governor DeSantis claims the six certified charter operators based on the School of Hope expansion will have a positive impact.
“I understand why they say that. I don’t think this criticism is ultimately justified, but I think it makes a big difference,” DeSantis said.
