{"id":5360,"date":"2012-03-06T17:08:34","date_gmt":"2012-03-06T22:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=5360"},"modified":"2012-03-06T17:08:34","modified_gmt":"2012-03-06T22:08:34","slug":"pinellas-school-board-recommends-closing-charter-school-with-scientology-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2012\/03\/06\/pinellas-school-board-recommends-closing-charter-school-with-scientology-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Pinellas School Board Recommends Closing Charter School With Scientology Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a>

Pinellas County school<\/p>

Pinellas County schools interim superintendent John Stewart recommended closing Life Force Arts and Technology Academy.<\/p><\/div>\n

Bonnie Harvin says her 11-year-old daughter is doing well at Life Force Arts and Technology Academy in Clearwater.<\/p>\n

“She’s a straight A student,” says Harvin. “Her FCAT scores are above grade level. So yes, I do think she has improves. A lot”<\/p>\n

But Pinellas County school board members say the evidence to close Life Force is “overwhelming.” The charter school is in bankruptcy, it changed its curriculum without permission and it’s failing to serve students with disabilities.<\/p>\n

“If corrections can not be made then I think we should close the school,” says school board member Carol Cook.<\/p>\n

The school uses a controversial curriculum from the Church of Scientology, first reported by the Tampa Bay Times<\/em><\/a>. But school board members said Scientology did not affect their decision.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sarah Parker teaches 1st grade at Life Force Academy. She says the school does not teach religion.<\/p>\n

“I don’t know anything about Scientology,” says Parker, who is Episcopal. “So to imply I was pushing Scientology. I’m sorry I wasn’t.”<\/p>\n

Harvin says she’s more worried about where her daughter will attend school next year.<\/p>\n

Related<\/h4>
Posts<\/h5>