A School on Longboat Key

Talking with friends who have children and live on Anna Maria Island, I have learned that they love Anna Maria Elementary School. The same is true for my friends with children in St. Stephen's School in Bradenton. What if Longboat Key had a small first class middle school? I know people with young children move to Anna Maria Island because of the highly regarded elementary school. I also know parents who are concerned about finding quality schools in Manatee County after their children reach 5th grade and have to leave the Anna Maria school. I have personally worked with students attending the nationally ranked Pine View public school in Sarasota County. I has greatly impressed.

Would a quality math and science magnet school on Longboat attract families to our community? Talking to friends in places such as Rye and Scarlsdale, New York, their schools attract families who purchase homes and pay high taxes to have access to some of the best public schools in the country.

There could be a captive school population comprised of students graduating from the Anna Maria school who already live in close proximity to a school located on the north end of Longboat Key. I have neighbors who willingly transport their children to Bradenton charter schools because education is important to them.

I have no idea what the new owners of Whitney Plaza have in mind for all the land they have recently acquired on the north end of Longboat Key. With the specter of a new Publix retail complex at Bay Isles, the new owners may be dissuaded from retail development on the expanded Whitney Plaza site. For years I have advocated a tasteful low-rise residential development (two stories over parking and not more than 35 feet high) on the property as the best and most appropriate use of the land, in keeping with the beachy residential flavor on the north end of Longboat. However, I also recognize there could be density issues trying to build homes on the Whitney land. The Conrad Beach development, now a decade old, still has vacant lots for sale, so selling planned unit developments on the north end appears to be challenging, especially in this depressed real estate climate. Mixed-use has not worked well at Lakewood Ranch where there are numerous condominiums over empty retail shops. This is an unattractive situation for the condominium owners who are powerless to improve their situation.

There may be an opportunity for a top-notch school to attract families to Longboat who are in search of a good educational experience for their children. Additionally, I believe that parents of students graduating form the Anna Maria Elementary School would welcome a middle school close to home for their children.  A good charter school would attract families and improve the demographic mix on Longboat Key.  Keep in mind, one year-around family of four is equal to 8 snowbird conominium units in terms of yearly on-island retail sales. 

The town and the community needs to look for new community alternatives as we look into the future. Longboat taxpayers are major supporters of the county school systems. Perhaps it is time to get something in return and help our community at the same time.

Of course people can raise all sorts of arguments about the difficulties of creating a new charter school on a barrier island. However, we need to seriously explore opportunities instead of using negativity as a rational for doing nothing.