Enrollment at the new school is open to all students that will be in kindergarten through eighth grade during the 2009-10 school year, according to Ann Gubler, chairman of the board of trustees for Excelsior Academy.
“We still have a lot to accomplish,” Gubler said. “But we are on schedule for our opening next fall.”
One of the biggest obstacles the school has faced, according to Gubler, is getting the public to understand charter schools.
“Charter schools are public schools and receive financing from the state, they do not and can not charge for tuition, and they cannot discriminate in enrollment, everybody is welcome,” Gubler said. “The basic difference between a public charter school and the traditional public schools is that at a charter school the decisions are made at a level closer to the students, giving parents more influence.”
As in traditional public schools, all teachers at Excelsior Academy will be state certified teachers, and students will take the same standardized assessment tests required by the state.
The curriculum at Excelsior Academy will cover all the state core content. Gubler said students will gain a broad classical foundation of knowledge, and assessments will be used to evaluate students progress and make sure they are placed at the appropriate instructional level.
The school will be built on property on Erda Way, just west of Thompson’s Smokehouse. A contractor has not been secured yet, Gubler said.
The school will not provide transportation but will help in organizing carpools, Gubler said.
Intent to enroll forms and opportunities to get involved can be found at the school’s Web site www.excelsior-academy.org.
Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com
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