Cape Coral charter school chief to step down

CAPE CORAL, Fla. The superintendent of the city’s charter schools turned down a contract extension Monday, City Councilwoman Jessica Cosden said.

Nelson Stephenson has no intention of signing a new deal by the April 1 deadline for him to do so, he told The News-Press. He plans to remain in the job until June, when his current contract expires, according to Cosden, who also serves on the Cape Coral Charter School Authority board.

Stephenson and Mayor Marni Sawicki engaged in a high-profile spat that drew several, including students, to attend a December board meeting in which the pair squabbled over school funding. Sawicki announced last week she wouldn’t seek re-election.

It’s not immediately clear why Stephenson, who’s led the charter schools since 2015, turned down the extension.