ARGYLE - The Argyle school board will consider a resolution to close the Argyle Land Ethic Academy Charter School next year when it meets Monday.
Superintendent Bob Gilpatrick said charter school's curriculum will be incorporated into the regular school district curriculum under the title "Integrated Environmental Sciences" for juniors and seniors as a way to interest more students. There will also be environmental sciences taught for one semester in seventh- and eighth-grade.
The changes take effect in the fall.
The change in curriculum won't have any effect on the district budget, Gilpatrick said. Les Bieneman will continue to teach the classes on a part-time basis, he said.
The new curriculum will have the same focus as the charter school. Students will continue to study prairie seed collections, planting and water testing.
As part of the regular school district curriculum, the class could attract students from other school districts who may consider becoming Argyle school district students through open enrollment, according to school officials.
Students in the charter school study the environment and social issues related to the environment, Gilpatrick said.
For example, students could examine land use issues and water run-off. Gilpatrick said the classes won't fall under a specific category such as science or social studies, because environmental issues often overlap.
There are eight students in the charter school.
Gilpatrick said students in the program have told him they like the idea that it will be expanded.
Bob Laeser, Argyle, president of the volunteer board that oversees the charter school, said he views the change as "the best of both worlds."
Laeser said the goal was always to teach environmental sciences in the school, and the charter school fulfilled its mission. Now, he said, the program will be districtwide.
"It's essentially the same program that will be taught in the school," he said.
The charter school began in 2004. In the past, the the school conducted symposiums to learn about water quality testing, land preservation and restoration, flooding, roadways and construction.
The students have also collected seeds to restore prairies and collected about 15,000 plants, including more than 150 species in the charter school's greenhouse.
The Argyle school board meets at 7 p.m. in the High School Library.
Superintendent Bob Gilpatrick said charter school's curriculum will be incorporated into the regular school district curriculum under the title "Integrated Environmental Sciences" for juniors and seniors as a way to interest more students. There will also be environmental sciences taught for one semester in seventh- and eighth-grade.
The changes take effect in the fall.
The change in curriculum won't have any effect on the district budget, Gilpatrick said. Les Bieneman will continue to teach the classes on a part-time basis, he said.
The new curriculum will have the same focus as the charter school. Students will continue to study prairie seed collections, planting and water testing.
As part of the regular school district curriculum, the class could attract students from other school districts who may consider becoming Argyle school district students through open enrollment, according to school officials.
Students in the charter school study the environment and social issues related to the environment, Gilpatrick said.
For example, students could examine land use issues and water run-off. Gilpatrick said the classes won't fall under a specific category such as science or social studies, because environmental issues often overlap.
There are eight students in the charter school.
Gilpatrick said students in the program have told him they like the idea that it will be expanded.
Bob Laeser, Argyle, president of the volunteer board that oversees the charter school, said he views the change as "the best of both worlds."
Laeser said the goal was always to teach environmental sciences in the school, and the charter school fulfilled its mission. Now, he said, the program will be districtwide.
"It's essentially the same program that will be taught in the school," he said.
The charter school began in 2004. In the past, the the school conducted symposiums to learn about water quality testing, land preservation and restoration, flooding, roadways and construction.
The students have also collected seeds to restore prairies and collected about 15,000 plants, including more than 150 species in the charter school's greenhouse.
The Argyle school board meets at 7 p.m. in the High School Library.