Watson Sloane represents Florida Development Finance Corporation for Renaissance Charter School financing

Watson Sloane attorneys served as Bond Counsel for the issuance by the Florida Development Finance Corporation if its $57,300,000 Educational Facilities Revenue Bonds and $415,000.00 in Taxable Educational Facilities Revenue Bonds issued for the benefit of Renaissance Charter School, Inc.  Renaissance Charter School, Inc. is a Florida not for profit corporation originally incorporated as Ryder System Charter School, Inc. on August 19, 1998. It subsequently changed its name to Renaissance Elementary Charter School, Inc. on August 10, 2004, and again changed its name to Renaissance Charter School, Inc. on September 20, 2004. Renaissance Charter School governs 39 schools for the 2021-22 school year. The original school operated by Renaissance Charter School was the country’s first charter school in the workplace.

Renaissance Charter School operates the following four charter schools (“the Schools”) located within Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach and Leon Counties, Florida that benefitted by this bond issue:

Renaissance at Chickasaw Trail

Renaissance at Chickasaw Trail began operating in the 2012-13 school year, serving approximately 616 students in grades K-6. The School expanded to include grade 7 in 2013 and grade 8 in 2014. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year was 935 students in grades K-8. The current charter was renewed for a 15-year term in 2017 that expires on June 30, 2032.

Renaissance at Poinciana

Renaissance at Poinciana began operating in 2012-13 school year, serving approximately 608 students in grades K-6. The School expanded to include grade 7 in 2013 and grade 8 in 2014. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is 934 students in grades K-8. The current charter was renewed for a three-year term commencing on July 1, 2020 and will expire on June 30, 2023.

Renaissance at West Palm Beach

Renaissance at West Palm Beach opened in the 2012-13 school year with approximately 650 students in grades K-6. The School expanded to include grade 7 in 2013 and grade 8 in 2014. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is 985 students in grades K-8. The current charter was approved for a 15-year term commencing on August 1, 2012 and will expire on July 31, 2027.

Governors Charter Academy

Governors Charter Academy opened in the 2012-13 school year with approximately 574 students in grades K-6. The School expanded to include grade 7 in 2013 and grade 8 in 2014. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is 387 students in grades K-8. The current charter was renewed for a five-year term commencing on July 1, 2022 and will expire on June 30, 2027.

Each School is required to implement strategies to achieve a racial and ethnic balance reflective of the community, and agrees that it will not discriminate against students with disabilities who are served in the Exceptional Student Education (“ESE”) programs and students who are served in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (“ESOL”) programs. Admission policies are required to be nonsectarian. Each School is required to adopt the respective School Board’s school year calendar for at least the number of days required by law for other public schools.

The Schools are required to implement the respective School Board’s standards of achievement and to participate in an assessment program that mirrors the statewide assessment of the respective School Board’s schools.  The Schools are required to provide annual reports and audits, and to submit monthly financial reports on a cumulative basis in accordance with cost accounting requirements of State schools.