TAMPA — Plans have been scrubbed to build a charter school at MacDill Air Force Base, a leader of the charter group told the Hillsborough County school district Monday.
Instead, according to a letter to the district, base commander Col. Daniel Tulley is supporting plans to expand Tinker Elementary School, which is on the base, to include grades 6, 7 and 8.
The charter group, headed by Tampa lawyer Stephen Mitchell, did not rule out trying again in the future for a second school.
"While we understand this promised expansion (of Tinker) will provide some relief, we recognize that it is likely only a temporary solution and hope that in the future we will be able to find a way to accommodate many more students," Mitchell wrote.
The base's last commander, Col. Scott DeThomas, supported the idea of a charter school and is now a member of the MacDill Charter Academy board. But things have changed since Tulley assumed command this summer.
"We must acknowledge and take into consideration recent world activities and the role of MacDill Air Force Base in these activities," Mitchell said, referring to U.S. Central Command's leadership in the strikes against Islamic militants. "You have to prioritize."