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Charter School To Expand Facilities

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By LIZ BLEAU

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

PROGRESS VILLAGE - LLT Academy, a charter public middle school, hopes to welcome a flock of new students by building high-tech facilities this summer for 120 high school students.

LLT, which stands for Literacy, Leadership Technology, opened in 2005 and serves students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Administrators hoped to build a school last year, but budget cuts forced them to put plans on hold and opt for a smaller addition, Principal Curt Miller said.

When summer vacation starts next month, Miller said, crews will start work on a 12,000-square-foot building with a science lab and a virtual gym, which uses video technology to enhance workouts.

Lesley Logan, the school's chief academic officer, said the only other virtual gym in the area is at the University of South Florida.

"It's kind of Wii on steroids," Logan said.

The school will welcome freshmen and sophomores in fall and juniors and seniors in the 2009-10 school year, Miller said.

School administrators are seeking approval to build a 48,000-square-foot facility that will house 900 students, 500 in high school and 400 in middle school, he said.

A zoning hearing officer has recommended approval of the expansion plans. The Board of County Commissioners will review the proposal at a hearing and vote May 13.

The classrooms will have interactive "smart boards" with computer chips and software that will enable teachers and students to write on the board with their fingertips.

Logan said the school focuses on building character and academic skills. The high school will "be a part of that same culture," she said.

"All freshmen will be required to take a professional leadership course that is being tailored specifically for them," she said. "In a team effort with parents, we will teach our students the character traits that will help them make good choices not only for their lives, but that of society as well."

Parents will be expected to volunteer and be involved in school activities, she said.

"We ask for five hours a month from anyone in the family, so sometimes that means the students themselves are doing the volunteer work," Logan said. "We are strict about the volunteer hours because we feel strongly it's important to partner with the parents, and that it's good for students to see the parents here on campus helping."

LLT Academy is at 6771 Madison Ave. in Progress Village. Applications are being accepted for the 2008-09 school year. For information, call (813) 234-0940 or visit www.lltacademy.com

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com

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