Patel Charter School cancels plans for new campus in Trinity, Pasco County.

Pasco County has decided against the establishment of a new charter high school designed to accommodate approximately 1,300 students in the Trinity community. This development comes after the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding opted to terminate its plans for the construction of the campus, mere weeks after the Pasco County School Board approved a deal that would have set the project in motion.

For over a year, representatives from the Pasco County School District and the Patel Foundation engaged in negotiations seeking to bring this project to fruition, which was slated to be situated just north of State Road 54 and east of Gunn Highway. However, delays in the timeline and growing concerns about project viability prompted the foundation to withdraw.

Chad Toujague, a director within the Patel Foundation, indicated that as deadlines approached, there was diminishing confidence within the organization regarding the feasibility of delivering the project by the anticipated completion date of August. This marked a significant setback for the district, which has recently encountered difficulties in securing charter school partnerships.

Previous initiatives, such as a proposed 400-seat Pepin Academies charter school designed for students with special needs in the Kirkland Ranch community, also fell through due to financial pressures and logistical challenges. Meanwhile, another charter collaboration with Dayspring Academy, which operated previously under Superintendent John Legg, did open in the Angeline subdivision last fall.

The difficulties surrounding the Patel Foundation project were not merely related to the aggressive 14-month construction schedule. Toujague stated that the organization faced obstacles regarding contract specifics that could not be reconciled within the required committee framework. Notably, a clause stipulating the return of the site to the district in the event of the charter school’s closure, despite the foundation’s purchase of the land, proved to be a source of confusion and concern.

Superintendent John Legg mentioned that Patel officials sought to renegotiate terms following the School Board’s approval, a request he declined, emphasizing that the board had made its concessions. Consequently, both parties mutually agreed to part ways without agreement.

Currently, the Pasco County School District does not have immediate plans for additional high school capacity in the Trinity area, where recent growth has been stagnant. However, Deputy Superintendent Betsy Kuhn noted that while current needs are more pressing in eastern Pasco, trends indicate ongoing interest in high school enrollment in the Trinity region.

Despite the project’s cancellation, the Patel Foundation remains open to exploring future charter school opportunities in Pasco County, contingent upon revised terms that better align with their organizational goals. In a contrasting sentiment, Board Member Megan Harding expressed disappointment over the lengthy process and substantial effort dedicated to the initiative, ultimately culminating in its discontinuation. Following discussions, the board unanimously resolved to terminate the contract with the Patel Foundation.

The situation remains fluid as district planners continue to monitor developments in the Trinity area, keeping high school enrollment trends under review for any potential future action.