MONROE - The Monroe school board gave its thumbs-up to Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy Monday by agreeing to fund another year of the Accelerated Schools Plus program.
Tina Van Meer, Abe Lincoln principal, asked the school board to pay $65,000 to fund the school's third year of the Accelerated Schools program. The school began the program two years ago and paid for the first year and a half of the program with a $150,000 grant it received when it became a charter school. The school board dissolved the charter school agreement this winter because as a charter school, Abe Lincoln would have needed to create a governing body separate from the school board.
That left funding to complete the program in question. At the time, administrators and school board members alike were concerned the district stood to lose up to $700,000 because of a change in how the state would fund virtual schools. The board agreed to spend $42,500 to pay for the second half of the 2007-2008 school year, leaving future funding in question.
With virtual school concern resolved, support for Abe Lincoln's efforts and its involvement in the Accelerated Schools program returned Monday.
District Administrator Larry Brown, who this winter said he did not fully support the program, said he now supported the board paying the $65,000 needed to complete the third year of implementation.
"Abraham Lincoln has proved it's on track and making progress," he told the board. "I'm extremely impressed they have a sustainability plan in place."
Van Meer said at board's last meeting that the school was so committed to completing its training through Accelerated Schools, staff was willing to pay $15,000 of the building's $87,000 yearly allocation toward the program's affiliation fee.
Board member Mary Frantz, who supported the Accelerated Schools program, said she was still bothered that other elementary schools did not receive the same level of professional development as Abe Lincoln.
Other schools in the district are always looking at staff development and are welcome to take the same initiative Abe took in implementing the Accelerated Schools program, Jennifer Thayer, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, responded. She reiterated her position that district money needs to be allocated where it is needed most.
"Fair isn't always equal," she said.
Tina Van Meer, Abe Lincoln principal, asked the school board to pay $65,000 to fund the school's third year of the Accelerated Schools program. The school began the program two years ago and paid for the first year and a half of the program with a $150,000 grant it received when it became a charter school. The school board dissolved the charter school agreement this winter because as a charter school, Abe Lincoln would have needed to create a governing body separate from the school board.
That left funding to complete the program in question. At the time, administrators and school board members alike were concerned the district stood to lose up to $700,000 because of a change in how the state would fund virtual schools. The board agreed to spend $42,500 to pay for the second half of the 2007-2008 school year, leaving future funding in question.
With virtual school concern resolved, support for Abe Lincoln's efforts and its involvement in the Accelerated Schools program returned Monday.
District Administrator Larry Brown, who this winter said he did not fully support the program, said he now supported the board paying the $65,000 needed to complete the third year of implementation.
"Abraham Lincoln has proved it's on track and making progress," he told the board. "I'm extremely impressed they have a sustainability plan in place."
Van Meer said at board's last meeting that the school was so committed to completing its training through Accelerated Schools, staff was willing to pay $15,000 of the building's $87,000 yearly allocation toward the program's affiliation fee.
Board member Mary Frantz, who supported the Accelerated Schools program, said she was still bothered that other elementary schools did not receive the same level of professional development as Abe Lincoln.
Other schools in the district are always looking at staff development and are welcome to take the same initiative Abe took in implementing the Accelerated Schools program, Jennifer Thayer, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, responded. She reiterated her position that district money needs to be allocated where it is needed most.
"Fair isn't always equal," she said.