Executive Director Update: Delayed Temporary Site Opening & Future Logistics

Urgent Update for 7th/8th Grade Only: Delayed Temporary Site Opening & Future Logistics

Dear Families,

First, please note that the bus schedule will be shared via Remind and on our closed school social media site. Due to school safety, we do not want to publicly share our route.

Thank you for the families that came out to visit the proposed temporary site for Middle School. 

We are writing to share an important update regarding our planned 7th and 8th grade temporary site opening tomorrow. 

Today was a busy day. We completed a fire inspection, insurance requirements, a food service inspection, a meeting with Safe Schools and the Charter Office to ensure that the campus is safety ready, and an emergency board meeting to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Boys and Girls Club Mulberry. Despite our team's continuous work, completing almost every single requirement set by the school board, we have run into a delay with one final mandatory item: an official health inspection. We are currently coordinating with the health department to complete this last item.

While there is a small chance everything comes together at the last minute, we want to give you enough time to make alternative arrangements for your family. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, we will delay opening tomorrow.

We know how frustrating and disappointing this news is, especially as everyone has been preparing for the transition. Please know we are doing everything in our power to clear this final hurdle as quickly as possible, and we will send another update tomorrow with our confirmed opening timeline.

Middle School Drop-Off & Pick-Up Options (For Opening Day Onward)

To help you prepare for when our doors officially open, please review the drop-off and afternoon dismissal options for Middle School (MS) students:

Morning Drop-Off Options

• Option 1: Sibling Drop-Off at Main Campus (7:20 AM Shuttle)

  • Eligibility: STRICTLY for families who also have a younger sibling on the Lakeland Campus.

  • Details: Drop off at the main campus in time for the 7:20 AM sharp shuttle to the MS site. The bus cannot wait for late arrivals.

  • Note: If you do not have a sibling at the Lakeland Campus, you must choose Option 2 or Option 3.

    
    

• Option 2: Bus Rider

  • Ride any bus stop. (Ft. Fraser is right before Mi Escuela Montessori and Carter Rd. is the latest bus stop before the Mulberry Site.) Riders will transfer at the Lakeland Campus to the MS Shuttle, except for the Carter Rd. Shuttle, which picks up after the Lakeland transfer.

    
    

• Option 3: Direct Campus Drop-Off

  • Drop off directly at your respective campus between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM (doors open at 7:30 AM).

Afternoon Pick-Up & Dismissal Options

• Category 1: Standard Single-Campus Pick-Up

  • Pick up directly at your assigned campus during the standard window (2:40 PM – 3:00 PM).

    
    

• Category 2: Bus Riders with Siblings Across Campuses

  • Afternoon bus routes consolidate siblings so they can be picked up together at the same designated bus stop.

    
    

• Category 3: Multi-Campus Families (Primary & Middle School Siblings)

  • Toddler/Pre-K + Middle School: MS students with a Toddler or Pre-K sibling qualify for late dismissal and can be picked up at the Primary Campus (6129 US Hwy 98 S) at 3:10 PM.

  • On-Site Aftercare (K–8th Grade): Pick up at the Primary Campus (6129 US Hwy 98 S) anytime between 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM.

  • K–6th Grade + 7th–8th Grade (General Dismissal):

    • Option A: Drive to both campuses independently during standard dismissal (2:45 PM – 3:00 PM).

    • Option B: Use the afternoon bus route. The closest stop to the Primary Campus is the Stokes Road Stop (CR-540A & Stokes Rd), dropping off at 3:03 PM.

Off-Campus After-School Club Bus Transportation

There is transportation offered to the following community partner clubs after school:

• Mulberry Boys & Girls Club

  • Address: 301 NE 5th St, Mulberry, FL 33860

  • Drop-off Time: 2:51 PM

• Bartow Boys & Girls Club / Gibbons St. Elem

  • Address: 1235 E Gibbons St, Bartow, FL 33830

  • Drop-off Time: 3:27 PM

Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and support as we finalize our opening.

Warmly,

Kelly De La Cruz