Charter School achievements on Council workshop agenda
Cape Coral City Council will hear from Cape Coral Charter Schools superintendent Jacqueline Collins on the state of the municipal system Wednesday.
Collins will give a report on the achievements of the system in the aftermath of one of the most disruptive issues the schools have encountered, a global pandemic.
Collins is expected to report on the continued management of the pandemic mandates and resources as well as the achievements of students during that time; the development and funding of the Oasis STEM Makerspace Initiative, which is expected to launch students into 21st Century workforce readiness; its strategic plan and awards and recognitions received.
Among the recognitions is that Oasis High School on track for a 100 percent graduation rate; more than 300 student athletes, including six wrestlers who went to the state tournament; and several recognitions for the schools JROTC program, including being one of just two programs in the county moving on to the Army Drill National Competition next month.
Councilmember Jennifer Nelson said she always looks forward to the end-of-year report from the charter schools.
“I was always impressed with the status report of these schools. They continue to be very successful and score as ‘A’ schools statewide and the STEM program is off the charts,” Nelson said. “My hope is we can figure out how to sustain them to keep them thriving.”
Council also will get a staff presentation on the Burnt Store Road corridor, the 8.25-mile major road that goes from Pine Island Road to the Charlotte County line and is currently being widened from two to four lanes.
Of the 2,311 acres, 1,682 will be reserved for non-residential zoning and 629 for residential zoning. 1,525 acres will have non-residential land use and 786 with residential preservation land use.
Existing development along corridor is mostly single-family homes, with the proposed Hudson Creek seeking approval of 3,500 homes, a university, 575,000 square feet of commercial and 500 hotel rooms.
Another location, Myriad RV Park, is under construction, though currently on hold, and several parcels have been changed from residential to commercial future land use in the last few years.
The big challenge will be utilities. Utilities are currently in place from Pine Island Road to Tropicana Parkway, but the rest of the corridor lacks water and sewer.
Myriad RV Park paid for utility lines from Charlotte County, while Hudson Creek is seeking utility expansion agreement to construct lines for future development.
Staff is expected to recommend the establishment of a Burnt Store Road Corridor Future Land Use and Zoning District, establish landscaping standards for the corridor, eliminate the Agricultural Zoning District, and accommodate the expansion of water and sewer along the corridor.
Council will also get an update on the 2021 state legislative session, on engineering design standards and on the budget amendment review.
Council workshops begin at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com