School Board Denies Florida Virtual Academy Charter Application

The Pasco School Board voted Tuesday to decline the Florida Virtual Academy at Pasco County's application for a 2013 charter. 

Board member Alison Crumbley motioned to deny the superintendent's recommendation to approve the charter, citing issues such as an ongoing SEC investigation and lower than average student scores.

K12-Florida, the corporation which operates virtual schools in Florida, also has been accused of hiring uncertified teachers, according to Bay  News 9.

There are serious matters that need to be resolved, Crumbley said.

Board vice chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong seconded Crumbley's motion for the sake of discussion, but said she felt the application met the state's criteria for approving a charter. She suggested approving the application and addressing the concerns as part of later contract negotiations.

Luikart agreed, for the sake of avoiding a legal battle over the denied application, he said. "We can put some teeth into the contract end of things."

But board chairwoman Joanne Hurley said the events and issues outside the application were enough to give the board "good cause" to deny the application.

After Hurley addressed her concerns, the board voted unanimously to deny the application.

Editor's Note: The Pasco County School District's virtual school, Pasco eSchool, is not affiliated with Florida Virtual Academy.