Cape Coral approves new Oasis charter schools lease
Cape Coral City Council unanimously approved a five-year agreement to lease city buildings to Oasis charter schools, reflecting a new hands-on approach for the charter school system.
The schools were previously responsible for paying off the buildings that the city leases to them.
"This city council is committed to these charter schools," said Councilmember Gloria Tate, the council liaison to the charter school governing board.
Earlier this year, the council discussed options toward paying off the charter schools' debt and how to keep the financially troubled charter schools going.
The city chose to remove their arms-length approach and take on administrative responsibilities like facilities maintenance while the school staff focus on educating students.
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"The city started taking a more arms-length approach to the charter schools, and that wasn't a good idea for either side," Assistant City Manager Connie Barron said. "Then we found ourselves in February this year talking about what we were going to do because the charter schools were having financial difficulties."
Since assuming more responsibility for the schools, Mayor John Gunter previously signaled his intention to discuss and set a new master lease with the Oasis charter schools.
The charter schools lease buildings from the city of Cape Coral. The schools will now be required to pay $1.5 million per year; the previous amount was $3.2 million per year.
What are the Oasis charter schools?
The Oasis charter schools were created in 2005 and include two elementary schools, middle schools, and a high school.
The city of Cape Coral was initially very involved with the operations of these charter schools, but involvement waned when Mark Mason, current Cape Coral financial services director, left in 2010.
He was involved with the development of each one of the charter school's budget.
"From what I can tell, they are appreciative of us being back involved," Mason said.
The city and its charter schools first entered into a master lease agreement in 2011 with the Cape Coral Charter School Authority acting as a lessee.
The agreement included four schools, a gymnasium and other facilities, and the authority is responsible for utilities, taxes, and any repair to the property.
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Earlier this year the city approved an ordinance that removed a tax exemption on electricity, allowing the city to collect an estimated $2.6 million for the schools. The city also is adding $300,000 in capital improvement funding.
"With the funding source identified, we can move forward with transitioning," Barron said.
Oasis charter schools lease
The major change in the lease is the almost $1.7 million decrease in "debt payment" that the charter school authority has to pay to the city.
Other changes include:
The city must maintain roof, foundation and other structural portions of the school buildings.
The city has access to the premises at all times as long as they do not interfere with school operations.
The city will notify the school of any structural alterations, improvements, or additions.
The schools cannot make any structural alterations, but can make non-structural alterations to the school not exceeding $50,000.
Both the schools and city shall pay their own legal fees resulting from a dispute in the lease.
According to Guido Minaya, chairman of the the Cape Coral charter school governing board, he's been impressed with the support of city.
"When we were first advised that some of these team members and departments would be moving over to the city, it was a bit of a shock," Minaya said. "Six months later, they are true partners."
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Oasis charter school system gets new lease from Cape Coral City Council
