Rowlett Elementary Becomes Manatee's First Conversion Charter School

At the regularly scheduled school board meeting on Monday night, board members unanimously voted to allow Rowlett Elementary, a public school, to covert to a charter school at the start of 2014 school year.

The conversion would be the first ever for Manatee. During the meeting, board chair Karen Carpenter raved about the school's application, saying that the leadership team "really had their act together."

School officials submitted the application on August 1. Last week, Superintendent Rick Mills made a public statement that he would be supporting the school's effort and recommending board approval.

Two other potential charter schools applied earlier this year, but their applications were denied. 

Rowlett, located on Ninth Street East in Bradenton, is considered a magnet school, or public school with specialized courses or curriculum. Parents and teacher opted to take the concentrated school to the next level in June when 95 percent and 93 percent of teachers voted to convert to a charter school.

Converting to a charter will give parents, teachers and school administration more control over finances and curriculum. They will also receive funding based on enrollment.