Over the last several years, the Monroe County School Board (MCSB) sought to close one of the existing four elementary schools in Key West.

In June 2007, it was decided by the MCSB that a diverse group of community members were to be assembled to perform a study as to what was the best course of action.

This group was formed in the Fall of 2008 and in December of that year, recommended that it would be best to close Glynn Archer Elementary and create a K-8 on the Sigsbee Elementary site. Following this recommendation there were a series of town hall meetings held in the community.

At a February 2008 School Board meeting, Sigsbee Elementary was identified by the MCSB as the school that would either close or be converted to a charter school.

In April 2008, Naval Air Station Key West (NASKW) assembled people from all over the U.S. to determine the ability of the Navy to create a charter school in Key West. Although the Navy subsequently hired a school liaison officer with the thought that this might be the person to begin the school, it was determined in July 2008 that the Navy could not in fact be in charge of creating a school within a viable school district.

In August 2008, a group of people interested in helping to keep a school on the Sigsbee site, were identified to become the Sigsbee Elementary Charter School Founding Team. The charge for this group was to submit an application to the MCSB requesting to open a charter school at the existing site of Sigsbee Elementary School. This would preserve the existence of a school focused on meeting the needs of the military dependent child in Key West as well as provide an educational alternative to local Key West children.

On November 18, 2008, the MCSB conceptually approved the application submitted to open a charter school on the Sigsbee site when the school district closed the school. Sigsbee Charter School Board (SCSB) was formed.

The SCSB moved forward putting together the necessary items to start the charter school. In March 2009, the SCSB submitted an application to the FL DOE for over $325,000 in start-up grant money.

Soon thereafter, many issues arose within the district which put a lot of doubt as to whether the current school was to remain open or close at the end of 2009 while SCSB was in the process of moving forward. A lot of the uncertainty was put to rest with the May 2009 Memorandum of Understanding. This document was signed by the Superintendent, the MCSB, NASKW and the SCSB. Its intent was to put all doubts aside that the existing school would remain open for the 2009-2010 school year to allow the SCSB time to get proper funding and items in line for a smooth transition for charter school to open for the 2010-2011 school year.

During the summer, SCSB members and District representatives met to work on finalizing a contract between the SCSB and the District. Contract negotiations are currently underway with a finalized draft submitted to the MCSB for review.

In September 2009, the SCSB was awarded the start-up grant with first year planning money of $25,000. The first year of operation will see a subsequent allotment of $250,000 and the 2nd year of operation, $50,000.

The contract has been signed, and Sigsbee Charter School opened in July, 2010.