It's the choice the teacher's union challenged and the one the business community and some parents championed.
A math, science, and technology academy is now a reality in Peoria District 150 after the school board approved the charter school Monday night. Now many in the community want to know what happens now?
A math, science and technology academy is on the fast-track in District 150. After school board approval Monday, the charter school is set to open in the fall.
Cindy Fischer is a former assistant superintendent of District 150. She is now one of the seven founding board members of the Peoria Charter School Initiative. She commented that, "probably the most exciting phone call I got was from the District office saying what should we do? We're getting all sorts of phone calls, you know, with parents saying we want to get our kids first on the list."
Fischer's enthusiasm for this particular school choice is immense. But it is not shared by all. The union president of the Peoria Federation of Teachers Bob Darling asks, "Are we really addressing the problem? ...To me, it is a gifted school."
Wrong says Charter School Initiative board member Kyle Hamm. Hamm says, "the only requirement is to be a resident of District 150 boundaries. Any student can apply. It's done by lottery."
Hamm also says they'll market the school to kids and parents throughout the district and that it, "doesn't matter where you live, your ethnic background or what your grades are...there are no standards other than the fact that you do have a passion for math and science."
By law, the Academy is still a public school and qualifies for state aid and grant funding. But, its charter allows it to operate free from the same regulations as other District 150 schools.
For example, the school year will be about two-weeks longer at the Math, Science and Technology Academy and have a longer school day.
Teachers will not be part of the PFT union, but they can organize if they want. And they'll be eligible for performance-based bonuses. Cindy Fischer thinks that the agreement is, "the beginning of having the Peoria Community come together and say we value education. We know how important it is for our children and we know how important it is for the growth and well-being of our community."
Initially the school will serve 5th, 6th and 7th graders; with a maximum of 225 students. The goal is to eventually serve grades 5-through 12. The curriculum for the academy comes from concept schools which is in more than a dozen other charter schools across the country.
In the next two weeks, the Charter School Initiative and the school board must finalize the contract and select a location for the school, which will most likely be the former Loucks Middle School
Then they'll hire the principal and teachers.
To learn more, go to peoriacharterschools.org.
Twitter
Connect With Us