The Fundamental Schools Advocacy Network, which came on strong last fall, is gearing up for the next big push for more fundamental high schools in Pinellas County. From a May 20 e-mail: 

Dear School Board Members and Dr. Janssen,
 
Thank you for your consideration of expanding fundamental high school opportunities for Pinellas students. While we were disappointed that additional opportunities will not be available for the start of the 2010 school year, we understand the difficulties you faced with the short time frame available before the countywide program application period.  
 
We are excited about the commitment you made during the workshop last December to expanding fundamental high school opportunities in the context of system wide high school reform for the 2011 school year.  By expanding capacity, the school district will be able to once again open opportunities to attend a fundamental high school to students beyond the currently enrolled fundamental 8th graders and generate new FTE dollars by encouraging former private and home school students to enter our public schools.
 
We have many families and community members countywide who are very excited about expanded fundamental high school opportunities for the 2011 school year and we would like to communicate to them the district’s plans for designing and implementing the upcoming changes. We know that the plans for the 2011 school year must be finalized in just a few months and would appreciate a clear timeline of meetings and key decision points. Thank you in advance for providing us with this information and thank you for all you do for our students.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jean Willingham
on behalf of FAN (Fundamental Schools Advocacy Network)

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