BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

The Hillsborough County School Board recently approved changes that will affect six middle schools next year. Those changes will create two single gender middle schools in East Tampa.

Changes for the upcoming school year will transform Franklin Middle Magnet School to an All-Boys academy and Ferrell Middle Magnet School to an All-Girls Academy.

The changes for Franklin are being underwritten in part by an $11.5 million grant over the next 3 years.

The Hillsborough County School District is underwriting the changes for Ferrell Middle Magnet School.

Ms. Doretha Edgecomb, Chairman of the Hillsborough County School District said, “Research has shown that some students do better without the distractions of the opposite sex. This is just another chance for parents to decide what is right for them and their child. Parents have the option of sending their students to another area school [private]if they choose to do so. None of the students will be forced to attend the schools.”

Lockhart Elementary Magnet School and Young Middle Magnet School will become Creative Science Schools.

The students will matriculate from Lockhart to Young.

Two other middle schools who will undergo changes in the fall are Roland Park K-8 and Walker Middle School. Both of these schools will become Schools of International Studies.

Ms. Linda Cobbe, spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Public School District said the International Studies Program is a pre-requisite for the International Baccalaureate Program.[/private]