LAND O’ LAKES – The Pasco County School Board unanimously approved Nov. 19 a five-year contract for the Dr. Kiran Patel High School to operate in Pasco County.
The contract will commence on July 1, 2026, and end on June 30, 2031, unless terminated sooner or extended pursuant to terms in the contract.
Patel, who is a local philanthropist and entrepreneur, heads up a foundation that wants to build the tuition-free charter school. It would be located on 20 acres that was purchased from the school district in the Trinity area of west Pasco County in 2023.
The school district had purchased that property about seven years ago as the possible site for a new high school.
The Patel Foundation agreed in 2023 to pay 100% of the construction costs of the school that was originally planned to accommodate 1,000 students.
The Patel Foundation is now reportedly seeking to have 1,500 students at the charter school, which is planned to open in fall 2025.
The Patel Foundation has also expressed an interest in having a 15-year contract for the charter school rather than the typical five-year contract. This is because the Patel Foundation is seeking a longer contract to make the project more viable.
Deputy Superintendent Betsy Kuhn was asked to have a discussion with Dr. Patel regarding the things that are now being requested.
“Let’s see how we can move forward – or not move forward – depending on the conversation,” Armstrong said.
It was noted at the meeting that a charter school could possibly be built quicker than one of the district’s schools.
In other business, the school board approved a charter for Pinecrest Academy Connerton Middle School, which Fernando Barroso had submitted on Aug. 14.
The proposed charter school is projected to open during the 2025-26 school year at 22672 Pleasant Plains Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.
The maximum student enrollment projection for Year 1 (2025-26) is 198 for grade 6; Year 2 (2026-27) is 396 for grades 6-7; Years 3-5 (2027-2030) is 594 for grades 6-8.
Part of the mission of Pinecrest Academy Connerton Middle School is reportedly to inspire the hearts and minds of children to become tomorrow’s global leaders.
