WCOM NEWS

5-23-04

Miramar charter school's plan delayed until deal reached

MIRAMAR--Construction of a charter school was delayed a second time to give homeowners and school officials time to reach a compromise on what should happen to the current facility.

Somerset Charter officials want to build a larger school across the street from the building they now occupy, a community clubhouse at Bahia, near Flamingo and Countyline roads.

Now that the new school is being planned, homeowners at Bahia -- a 244-townhome neighborhood in the Vizcaya community -- want their clubhouse back.

Residents said they were led to believe, when they bought their homes, that they had the power to decide whether the school would stay in their clubhouse, which is next to the pool. The school has operated there since 1997.

But the school plans to keep the clubhouse and run a pre-kindergarten program there.

City commissioners on Wednesday night put off taking action on the new building until the June 2 commission meeting.

They said they would not act until homeowners and school officials agreed on shared use of the building and the amount the school would pay in maintenance fees. Also, they want a letter stating the clubhouse will be given back to the homeowners if it does not get a charter from Broward County to operate as a pre-kindergarten program.

"Let the two parties resolve it and come back with a solution that is acceptable," said Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman, who also asked that developers create a separate entrance for the new school.

The school has about 75 students enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade. The new school would accommodate up to 800 students through the eighth grade.

(source) Sun Sentinel (Lori Sykes) 5-23-04