Press Releases
Imagine Schools Files Application in St. Lucie County for Charter School in the Workplace
New Imagine International Academy at Tradition would become company's 20th Charter School in Florida
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (August 6, 2008) Imagine Schools, a nationally recognized organization that currently operates 51 public charter and independent schools across the country, filed an application with the St. Lucie County School Board to open the Imagine International Academy at Tradition. If approved, the school could open its doors at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
"Our mission is to help parents and guardians educate their children by creating learning communities of achievement and hope," said Tom Rogers, development director for Imagine Schools South Florida Region. "We believe that the Imagine International Academy at Tradition can become a model for educational achievement on the Treasure Coast."
If approved, the Imagine International Academy at Tradition will be created as a charter school in the workplace, meaning that it is being partially funded by businesses within the area, with enrollment preference given to children of employees. The school will be located near the Florida Center for Innovation at Tradition research park, and the proposed business partners, collectively known as the Tradition Business Partners, include the biotech and research companies located within FCI as well as the other nonretail commercial, office and industrial companies within Tradition. Companies that currently make up the proposed partnership include the Mann Research Center, the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Martin Memorial Health Systems, VGTIFlorida and Core Communities.
As a charter school in the workplace, the school is expected to provide additional incentive for biotech companies and research organizations to join St. Lucie County's growing biotech cluster. "While economic incentives have been important in the past, the answer to sustainable development of the scientific cluster lies in other strategic advantages we can offer existing and future research organizations interested in the Research Coast," said Larry Pelton, head of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County.
"Having a world-class educational facility within walking distance of a major employment center provides a strong recruitment tool for the research organizations as they look to attract scientists and researchers," Pelton added. "Access to quality education for their children is a major factors for the knowledge workers our institutes and companies must recruit if they are to be successful."
Plans call for the K-8 grade school to include 42 classrooms with 800 students during the first year with enrollment expanding to 66 classrooms and 1,340 students by the 2013-14 school year. The Tradition Business Partners will provide the school with land within the Tradition community. After seat assignments are filled by business partner employees, enrollment preference will then be given to children who reside within a four-mile "distance zone," with all eligible children from around the county able to fill any remaining slots.
Imagine Schools operated 10 schools in Florida during the 2007-08 school year and is scheduled to open nine additional schools this year. Imagine Schools' approach to curriculum is to operate within sound, tested educational principles. These principles serve as guidelines for a particular school in the Imagine Schools family to evaluate and select the instructional resources most appropriate for its distinct mission and student population. Imagine Schools provides our schools with The Imagine Schools Standards Based Curriculum, a comprehensive interdisciplinary curriculum aligned to state standards.
The St. Lucie County School Board is expected to act on the application within 60 days. If approved, Imagine Schools and the Tradition Business Partners will immediately begin finalizing plans for the school facilities and other elements necessary to open in August of next year.