Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 5-14-19

Feature
Board Chairperson Dispels Rumor Of Blake Being Sold
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The Chairperson of the Hillsborough County School Board has been hearing about a rumor that Blake High School is going to be sold. Ms. Tamara Sham- burger wants the commu- nity to know that is only a rumor and that there are no plans to sell the school.
“Blake High School is many things. It is a corner- stone of Tampa’s African American heritage and our larger history as a commu- nity. It is one of Florida‘s top performing arts high schools, routinely producing students who are stars in the spotlight and stars at life. It is one of the most prominent and visible signs of the strength of our public schools, with passionate alumni, a diverse student body and a visible presence in the heart of our city,” she said.
But leaders from Hills-
MS. TAMARA SHAMBURGER Chairperson, Hillsborough County School Board
borough County Public Schools are assuring the public there is one thing Blake High School is not: for sale.
“A rumor has been circu- lating that our community's ‘Historically Black High School’ is up for sale. I want the community to be reas- sured that this rumor is ab- solutely not true,” Ms. Shamburger, who repre-
sents District 5, which in- cludes Blake High School said.
Where did this rumor come from? The answer is unknown.
“I can tell you, our district is frequently approached by people who are interested in acquiring some of our vari- ous school properties across Hillsborough County,” Su- perintendent Jeff Eakins said.
Superintendent Eakins said his staff under- stands that Blake is right in the center of a fast-growing part of our community, and some of its athletic fields are on waterfront property, so it’s natural for developers to be interested in its land.
“Our district has had con- versations with groups inter- ested in having access to a waterfront *piece* of the property. In the right situa- tion, this could potentially bring in much-needed rev- enue to support our schools,” he said.
JEFF EAKINS Superintendent, Hillsborough County School District
“However, in this case, even to start a conversation, the understanding has been made clear that any arrange- ment would need to be in the best interest of Blake High School and our school dis- trict. And the school itself is off the table —it is simply not for sale,” he said.
The school district’s staff is not considering selling the school. No proposal has been
brought to the School Board to sell the school. The mes- sage from school leaders is clear: Howard W. Blake High School —- and the im- portant message it sends to the people of Tampa — are not for sale.
Howard W. Blake High School is located at the inter- section of North Boulevard. This new structure was com- pleted in 1997, and named in honor of the former high school that served the stu- dents of West Tampa.
For several years, Black students were educated at only two high schools in the county. Those schools were Howard W. Blake and George S. Middleton. Both high schools were closed in June 1971.
When they reopened, they became middle schools. In response to the commu- nity, when the new school was built in West Tampa it was named Howard W. Blake High School.
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