Despite last-minute wrangling and the attempts of desperate parents, two Pinellas County charter schools are set to close their doors Thursday.
- Windsor Prep, East Windsor Academy closing doors Thursday
- Agreement could not be reached between Pinellas Schools, landlord
- Schools had about 700 students in grades K-8 between 2 schools
- RELATED: Windsor Prep charter agreement terminated
After a workshop last week, Pinellas County school leaders decided it would be too costly to assume responsibility for East Windsor and Windsor Prep's lease agreements.
This all comes after the charter school's parent company, Newpoint Education Partners, faced legal troubles and accusations of mismanagement earlier this year.
Charter School Properties, Inc., the property landlord, wanted $994,000 a year or $11.5 million to buy the school property at 5175 45th Street North in St. Petersburg.
Parents of the school's 700 or so students fought hard during the past few months to save the elementary and middle schools. They had hoped the Pinellas School District would take over the schools and turn them into a single magnet school.
The Windsorprep.org home page now says the school is closed as of June 30.
Negotiations took place over alternatives for keeping the school open, including renting the buildings.
With those options all failing, parents are now scrambling to find schools for their children before the Aug. 10 fall start. Also, Windsor Prep teachers and administrators are searching for new jobs.
School officials said anyone with questions can contact the school office Thursday or email the board at board@windsorprep.org.