There are a plethora of challenges and techniques in establishing a charter school.  Moreover, to create a successful charter school is a daunting task!  However, we have remained undaunted and, as you can see, via our site, success abounds here at SSA+S! 
       

        Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences was conceived in the Fall of 1996, when the State of Florida sanctioned Charter Schools.  Seven distinct individuals [parents and teachers] interested in developing an innovative middle school formed the core group in beginning the process of writing the initial Charter.  An educational consultant was hired to promote and supervise the overall implementation of said Charter.  Charter schools must be unique in nature in order to be considered for approval by the State.  The founders of SSA+S all concurred that a successful middle school should be based upon a solid foundation of arts and sciences, and this type of school was needed in the Sarasota community. Moreover, to accomplish this goal, a relevant multicultural curriculum was established, based on an interdisciplinary, hands-on, thematic approach.  The entire community was, and is, currently being used as a classroom involving students, parents, staff, local arts, science, environmental, and business contributors, all sharing a synergistic, collaborative vision. Accomplishment of strategic objectives was ensured through the creation of parent/student contracts, which identified expectations and the performance accountability necessary to achieve them.  The Sarasota County School Board approved the Charter on April 22, 1997.  On June 9th, registration began, and the first class of 50 sixth graders entered in August 1997.
         Our initial facility was in a rented area at Girl's Inc., a Community Organization with small, but appropriate facilities including a technology center, auditorium, and classrooms that could accommodate our small number of students.  Our second year began, in classrooms, a meeting hall, and auditorium at the Unity Church, located near our present site.  In the second half of that year, we moved to our present location, a former warehouse designed and retrofitted to meet the needs of a thriving and growing student body along with its new and innovative educational programs. Located in the Rosemary district, a historic downtown neighborhood that is part of a revitalization initiative supported by the City is home to our buildings. The SSA+S Board of Directors chose the neighborhood because of its central downtown location near the Selby Public Library and other cultural centers such as the Asolo Theatre, Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Opera House, Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Aquarium and Research Laboratory, Ringling Museum, Ringling School of Art and Design, G-Wiz (a Science and Technology Learning Center) and easy access to public transportation.  Sarasota's ABC affiliate, WWSB Channel 40, has also relocated to a new site three blocks from our campus allowing us to expand our partnership, at times, with this television station.

        The stage was set for a superior educational institution to evolve. Mr. Anspaugh arrived in January 2001 with an educational philosophy that fit like a glove to the original mindset of the founders of SSA+S.  His philosophy of “The Holistic Approach of the Total Child,” has flourished and continues to keep SSA+S on the cutting edge of educational research and excellence.  To maintain this status, the infrastructure needed to be one that would facilitate growth and educational opportunities for each child attending SSA+S. One of the first things addressed was the need for a cafeteria, which was constructed inside of the main facility. This allowed the Sarasota County Breakfast and Lunch program to be established and implemented in concert with the construction of the “Field of Dreams,” which included a basketball court and field area for an effective physical education program to be realized.  With the help of many individuals, a mortgage was secured from Bank of America and ownership of our grounds and facilities was attained. Only a small percentage of Charter Schools actually own their own buildings and properties.  In the last three years, one original building on the property was renovated to house the “Black Box Theatre,” for Performing Arts, The Dance Studio, a Math Lab, a Reading Lab, an ESE Resource area, a Clinic, a Guidance Office, and a teacher work area.  The other renovated building houses the Martial Arts’ DOJO. In addition to the above renovations, new construction began as well. Three years ago a new four-classroom building was erected, allowing for a larger student population.  Two years ago, a new Band building was constructed, and last year, we built the boys’ and girls’ locker room building and paid cash for it. Presently we are awaiting the building permit, from the City, in order to begin construction of our new classroom facility. This new addition should be completed by October 2006, which will house our Art Center, as well as two classrooms on the second floor, along with an additional Reading Lab, to be housed in one of our existing buildings.
        Because of our belief in Multicultural Education, we have made a concerted effort to be a microcosm of a cross section of Sarasota and Manatee Counties.  Most people are familiar with the term and the misnomer "Melting Pot Theory."  This term originated from a play, written by Israel Zangwell, in 1909.  Said theory was based upon the idea that America was God's Crucible where all races of Europe were melted and transformed as one.  This fusion of races, however, did not take into consideration the Native American, Black American, or other populations outside of the Caucasian/European population.  The "Melting Pot" theory is inappropriate today as population diversity increases rather than diminishes.  Moreover, social and economic mobility means that groups once isolated to enclaves now participate more directly in the

Mainstream of American public life (including the disabled population).  More and more, people of the host population are realizing that ethnic and cultural roots are strengths, not weaknesses.  Rather than a "melting pot," a more accurate image for this country is a "tossed salad"
with various groups maintaining their distinctive identities while contributing to the quality of the entire society.  We then, at SSA+S, via our curriculum, teach students through an interdisciplinary, multicultural approach to recognize the contributions made by each group to the composition and success of this nation.  We have and continue to hold meetings at various locations throughout the County in an effort to achieve an equitable representation of all groups living in said area, including an appropriate population of ESE students.
        The growth at SSA+S has been substantial, in student population as well as in achievements over the past nine years.  Students attending SSA+S come from Sarasota County-at-large and next year, 2006-2007; about 75 students will be coming from the southern portion of Manatee County. We are proud that our student population is made up of 30% minorities allowing all of our children to truly live in a “tossed salad” environment.  We are excited to report that for the school year 2005-2006, that SSA+S achieved a very strong “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education, reached Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for student learning gains in compliance with the Federal “No Child Left Behind” Act, and reached its goal for “Just Read Florida,” sponsored by the Florida Department of Education.  The administration and staff are working tirelessly, getting ready for the upcoming school year when SSA+S will open its doors to 600 excited middle-school children.