Ocean Academy Rejects Government Takeover Plan
Ocean Academy is staying independent, turning down a government request to give up its license as plans move ahead for a new state-run high school on the island. School leaders say strong backing from parents and alumni helped cement the decision to protect its nonprofit model and unique curriculum. The campus has faced months of disruption from flooding, mold, and mosquitoes, forcing classes online and into borrowed spaces. Now, the school is raising funds for temporary classrooms while working toward a permanent home. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Construction on a new government high school in Caye Caulker is set to begin next month, but without Ocean Academy on board. The project was first pitched as a partnership to ease the school’s urgent need for space. After months of talks, Ocean Academy has pulled out, choosing to fund its own campus instead. Principal Noemi Zaiden says the decision came after the government asked the school to give up its license, effectively shutting it down as an institution.
Noemi Zaiden
Noemi Zaiden, Principal, Ocean Academy
“What we’ve been told is that the new government high school would have no ties to Ocean Academy and so we were also asked to voluntarily revoke our license. And so that’s one of the updates that we met with our stakeholders have made it clear to us that, you know, they don’t want for us or that we don’t revoke or voluntarily revoke our license so that Ocean Academy remains an institution, a high school in Caye Caulker.”
Ocean Academy is working to get all students back on campus by August, this time on higher ground. The school has moved key spaces upstairs and abandoned its flood-prone ground floor. In the short term, two movable classrooms will go up on a nearby property, keeping students close. Long term, school officials are eyeing a larger, permanent campus.
Elizabeth Usher
Elizabeth Usher, Counselor, Ocean Academy
“We had proposed at that time to have two movable classrooms because we knew that when we came back to this campus, we wouldn’t be able to use the ground floor. And right now, coming into the rainy season, we don’t know as yet how it will affect the ground floor for us, which we’re not currently using anyway.”
Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez has been working closely with the team on the project. He respects the academy’s decision to remain nonprofit but admits he’s disappointed.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“That is most unfortunate. It is most unfortunate. Deeply disheartening. I do know that we have been engaged in dialogue and speaking with them because we know the urgency of building a new high school, and we’re all in this together. There was all kind of- Allegations again, allegations about that the minister had sold out of the beachfront areas of the land, and that was clarified. We had a very fruitful meeting engaging with them. And this time the point made by the Ministry of Education was clearly that this is going to be a government-run school. And what that means that teachers students will be transferred over there. But I do know that they were talking about keeping it as the Ocean Academy way and keep it as they wanted to have their own curriculum. That’s not really what is happening.”
Now the school is once again turning to the public for assistance, calling on the community to help bring the students back to campus and work towards a bigger and better building. Ocean Academy’s founder, Heidi Curry says updates on the projects will be available on their website.
Heidi Curry
Heidi Curry, Founder, Ocean Academy
“The next update will be able to have specifics about the funds needed for those exact classrooms and then as soon as we are able to lock in what that Next parcel of land will be then we’ll be sharing all of that information about what kind of down payment is needed for that property. So we do have donors already lined up who say, if you can find that piece of land, we can help with the down payment is needed.”
Perez confirms Ocean Academy qualifies this year for free tuition under the government’s Education Upliftment program, but it’s unclear how long that support will last. Britney Gordon for News Five.
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