Discovery Education Services, Inc. d/b/a Orlando Science Schools (OSS) is a Florida not-for-profit organization that has operated Orlando Science Elementary School and Orlando Science Middle/High School since 2008.  OSS is a tuition-free Orange County public charter school, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.  OSS is the “home base” for more than 800 diverse Central Florida students.

With its focus on STEM, OSS has a waiting list and demand for a larger facility.  Its current elementary school campus consists of portables at 2427 Lynx Lane.  The school is working to secure funds to complete interior renovation of an existing 31,101 sf, two story office building at 2611 Technology Drive to accommodate 400 students. Total capital investment for this project is approximately $1.4 million. 

OSS has applied for assistance through the City of Orlando's Not-for-Profit Impact Fee Assistance program. The Not-for-Profit Impact Fee Assistance Program assists eligible not-for-profit agencies, located in the City of Orlando, with the payment of sewer benefit and transportation impact fees for construction projects. The maximum assistance approved under this program is 50% of the total eligible impact fees assessed on the project. The maximum amount granted under the program guidelines is $50,000. The standards for eligibility require that all requests for assistance be forwarded to City Council for approval. 

Total eligible fees for OSS under the Not-for-Profit Impact Fee Assistance Program, are $44,071.30. The program will pay fifty percent of eligible impact fees ($22,035.65). The fee breakdown is as follows: Sewer Benefit Fee @ 50% = $22,035.65.

Approve the Not-for-Profit Impact Fee Assistance Program Agreement between Discovery Education Services, Inc. d/b/a Orlando Science Schools and the City of Orlando, and authorizing the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem and City Clerk to execute same, subject to review and approval by the City Attorney's Office