Lauderhill sets tougher rules for charter schools

LAUDERHILL — Charter schools seeking to do business in the city won’t be able to wait until the last minute to find a site to hold classes and will have to show they have the money needed to last a full school year.

City commissioners gave final approval to new rules on Monday that they hope will protect students and their families from fly-bynight operations that don’t have the basics needed to succeed. The changes are some of the most comprehensive municipal regulations enacted in Florida regarding charter schools.

Like Lauderhill, Sunrise also imposed a moratorium on new charter schools while it develops new rules.

The Lauderhill law almost got held up because of concerns from the owner of two existing schools in the city about the new law’s im- pact, but commissioners passed the law, saying the city would work quickly to fix any problems.

Commissioners said new requirements for existing schools won’t be phased in until 2017.

“We have time. We’re not in a rush to change the law because it doesn’t affect you yet,” Mayor Richard Kaplan said.

Gary Resnick, an attorney representing Lauderhill and North University charter high schools and mayor of Wilton Manors, said there could be immediate impacts. Lauderhill High School, for example, would be allowed to remain open but would be treated as a school that doesn’t meet current building regulations, which could affect the insurance rates it pays.

Resnick was also concerned about language allowing the city to review a school’s permit or license if it receives five complaints of off-campus disturbances by students in any given school year. He said that section was too vague as to what type of complaints could lead to city action against a school.

“The schools have existed in Lauderhill for eight years,” Resnick said. “We would like to come back with some regulations that make sense.”

About a dozen teachers, administrators, students and parents of students attended the meeting because they thought Lauderhill High was being threatened.

Micheal Messam, a Lauderhill High senior who will graduate this month, said his education was saved by the school.

“I really thought I wasn’t going to make it in public schools because I goofed off,” Messam said. “Lauderhill gave me another chance to get it right.”