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Martin County board raises concern over 'Schools of Hope' outreach by Mater Academy seeking unused district space
Summary
Board members at the Nov. 4 workshop said Mater Academy and related 'Schools of Hope' outreach are sending letters to districts offering to occupy unused school space, potentially at district expense; staff and board members said state-level FAQs and a checklist were circulated and the board will address the topic in a future meeting.
A school board member raised concerns at the Martin County School Board workshop on Nov. 4 that organizations associated with "Schools of Hope," including Mater Academy, are sending letters to school districts seeking to use unused district space and that districts could shoulder costs for transportation and building modifications.
"It is the Schools of Hope, the Mater Academy, and they are starting to send letters to all of the districts, letting them know that they want to come in and utilize unused space in our districts at our expense. Nobody will pay but us. We'll pay for transportation. We'll pay for any of the building work that needs to be done," the school board member said.
Board members discussed administrative materials that have been circulating. A board member who identified himself as Mike said superintendents received a frequently asked questions document and, later, a checklist from Brian Moore intended to help districts vet any prospective applications. "We received a checklist to go along with the frequently asked questions that would really allow if we were to receive an application to sit as a team go through the checklist and make sure that everything on that checklist was, in compliance prior to even moving forward with anything, by way of an application," Mike said.
Mike and another board member said other districts are receiving many letters; Mike said Orange County received 26 letters. Board members asked for more information and indicated they would return the issue for fuller discussion at a future workshop or board meeting in December.
No formal motion or vote on the matter was recorded at the Nov. 4 workshop.
