Charter officials prepare for budget discussion
When the Cape Coral Charter School Authority meets with the city Council on Monday, the hope is that the tone will be civil, and that both sides learn and educate.
That was the message sent by Superintendent of Schools Nelson Stephenson following a two-hour workshop meeting in the Oasis High School cafeteria on Thursday in preparation of the joint session.
The meeting proved to be constructive, as everyone got out their concerns, asked their questions and got on the same page without attacks.
“We were able to get together cohesively and anticipate in a positive way the relationship we can build with the city,” Stephenson said. “We discussed how we can work together even better.”
Much of the talk centered around the budget, which for the first time will be a three-year budget similar to how the city does its document. Previously, all budgets were for one year, with the Authority sometimes wondering how it would pay for tall school needs.
While there is record enrollment for the 13-year-old city-owed and operated system, the middle and high schools are not at full capacity, which could limit what the system can do, especially when you consider the wants and needs of the four schools.
Among them is an addition of some sort at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, whether it be a dedicated brick-and-mortar expansion or (more likely) the addition of eight to 12 modular classrooms, as well as new air conditioning units.
Stephenson also said he would like to bring in an operations officer and a grant writer to get additional funds that may be available.
The Authority said that until the system knows what it has to work with involving enrollment the numbers are projections. Some questioned, though, the city’s assumptions,which they said are out of line.
The city has been using the Burton model to do its budget for several years. The Charter school system, with its three-year plan, would like to see that model at work.
The system was not involved in the making of the model, which is why Charter School Authority chairperson and Councilmember/Council liaison Jessica Cosden said she had problems with it. She said she does not agree with the assumptions.
Eventually, the subject got around to civility, which has been lacking at several of the meetings between the city and system in recent months.
Authority board member Sam Fisher said the tone has to be calm and cool.
“There are many unknown anxieties. We are a great system and we have made mistakes, but we need to go in there and educate, not be defensive,” Fisher said. “Much has been billed as contentious and it shouldn’t be. Let’s give them the facts.”
Stephenson said such a meeting should have happened years ago, an opinion also shared by City Attorney Dolores Menendez, who said there are many rules regarding the system that both sides should look into.
“We speak two languages. The city talks a certain way and the educators talk their language. We need to bridge that gap,” said Authority board member Robert Zivkovic.
“We have good people in the city who want to do good things and we have people who want to do good things. We have to mesh those together,” Stephenson said.
Cosden said everyone became more enlightened during the workshop and that come Monday she hopes for a spirit of cooperation.
“We hope the city and the schools can work together to keep going down the path of success,” Cosden said. “If everyone stays calm, that will be success. We haven’t had a joint meeting like this. I’ve been trying to set it up for months. I’m glad we can all get together and increase communication.
Cosden said she expects the meeting to be about the budget, and that other issues may not be the right time to bring up.
“I want to focus on one issue at a time and the one thing the city manager brought up was the budget. I hope the Burton model is done by the meeting,” Cosden said. “From now on, I hope we have a better picture of what’s happening further out. As a growing system, we need to think about that.”
The City Council workshop meeting at which the joint discussion is scheduled will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers
City Hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.