TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Michael Coleman, Director of Community Improvement
THROUGH: Mark R. Lauzier, City Manager
DATE: September 11, 2018
Title
EDUCATION MASTER PLAN - "STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE"
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Request City Commission support the recommendations outlined in the Education Master Plan Report and determine how the Report should be transmitted to the School District for further conversation.
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Background:
The City of Delray Beach has cultivated a strong working relationship with the School District of Palm Beach County over the past three (3) decades. Our community has come together on many occasions to strategically plan with the School District on ways to overcome educational challenges. In each instance, the plans have led to new educational opportunities for our youth resulting in better academic outcomes. Listed below are the most notable highlights:
1990: Creation of the Sharing for Excellence in Schools plan to address the issue of families not choosing to live in Delray Beach due to the condition of its schools. This plan helped to build three (3) new elementary schools to address overcrowding issues, renovating older schools that were slated to be closed to avoid blighting conditions in neighborhoods and implementing choice programs to attract families. This plan was implemented in eight (8) years with over a $10-million-dollar investment by the City. It also established the Education Advisory Board to oversee the plan.
1998: The City, along with its community partners, heavily lobbied the School Board to build Village Academy (a neighborhood school) located in the Southwest neighborhood to help combat the alarmingly high rate of academic failure among the community’s youth. This school was built as a small continuum school, servicing students aged Kindergarten through 12th grade with a small ratio of teacher to children (1:15) to ensure children would be prepared for college.
2002: Relocat...
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