North River Charter School Advances Despite Local Denial and Legal Cloud Over FORZA Education Management's Past
Planning Commission Denies Project, But New State Law Enables School to Proceed
PARRISH, FL — FORZA Education Management is moving forward with its latest school project, North River Charter Academy, despite a formal rejection by the Manatee County Planning Commission and growing concerns about infrastructure strain, transparency, safety, and an ongoing court case tied to FORZA’s other campus in the county.
At a June 12 hearing, the Planning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend denial of the rezoning and General Development Plan (PDR-24-31(Z)(G)) for a 46-acre parcel at 12740 CR 675. The project proposed:
A K-8 charter school and childcare center
236 townhomes, 25% of which would be designated as affordable housing
Rezoning from A-1 Agricultural Suburban to PDR Residential, unifying the site under one zoning designation
Citing inconsistencies with the county’s Comprehensive Plan and inadequate greenbelt and roadway buffers, commissioners deemed the proposal noncompliant with the Land Development Code. Although not opposed to charter schools as an option for local families, the commissioners voiced concerns over safety for the children, as there is no infrastructure in place or even in the planning stages for many years for pedestrian and bicycle traffic adjacent to the proposed site, or expansion of the two lane road to handle the additional traffic.
Charter School Will Open Anyway, Due to New State Statute
Despite the recommendation for denial, North River Charter Academy will open this fall, bypassing the Board of County Commissioners altogether. In a letter to families, the principal of North River Charter Academy explained:
“Thanks to Florida Charter School Statute Section 1002.33(18), our school’s application is being approved at the administrative level... we no longer need to seek approval from the Board of County Commissioners.”
The statute treats charter schools like traditional public schools for zoning purposes, preventing local governments from adding additional approval requirements.
FORZA’s Record of Challenging Local Oversight
This isn’t the first time FORZA Education Management has faced pushback in Manatee County. In 2017, its proposal for Parrish Charter Academy was denied by the School District after seven charter applications. FORZA appealed to the Florida Charter School Appeal Commission, which unanimously overturned the district’s decision. The State Board of Education upheld the reversal, and the school opened in 2019.
Ongoing Litigation Involving Parrish Charter Academy
Parrish Charter Academy, Inc.—the school FORZA fought to open—is involved in at least one active civil court case, according to the Manatee Clerk of Court. The case status is listed as open, with FORZA as a defendant/respondent. While the nature of the case is not detailed online, the existence of litigation raises new questions about accountability and oversight in the charter management group’s operations.
Community Pushback: “Force-Fed to All of Us”
The move has sparked outrage among residents of Parrish. In a post from the Parrish Parents Network, a local resident condemned the state’s preemption of local government:
“The North River Charter School project on CR 675 will now be force-fed to all of us... Stand by for more deadly traffic and delays.”
He also highlighted the recent 7–0 vote to deny the Pope Ranch Rezone project on the same corridor, raising concerns about inconsistent development standards and inadequate infrastructure. He praised the County Commissioners for attempting to keep their pledge to “reduce harmful max density rezoning”.
What Happens Next
North River Charter Academy will begin operations this August on the Parrish Charter Academy campus, pending the completion of its own campus construction.
The residential portion of the project, including 236 townhomes, may require further review or appeals following the denial.
County officials and advocacy groups are exploring legislative remedies to restore local control over charter school siting and growth.