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Groveport Madison plans to open a conversion community school
Groveport Madison School officials plan to open Cruiser Academy as a conversion community school for the 2010-11 school year.
As a conversion school, the district could be eligible for state money for charter schools that would aid in operation. According to Groveport Madison Superintendent Scott McKenzie, the district must prepare a charter, which must be approved by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).
Christine Boucher, Jason Hovance, Diana Orum, Shawndrea Singletary, and Andrea Wilson will serve on the Cruiser Academy board of directors. Officers will be McKenzie as superintendent, Tony Swartz as treasurer and Monique Hamilton as secretary.
"The goal of Cruiser Academy is to prepare the 21st century student in the following manner: course completion as stated by the ODE; OGT preparation and assessment; provide career-based skill development; and give support to students who want to continue education on a collegial level,' said Groveport Madison Director of Secondary School Improvement Monique Hamilton.
Cruiser Academy is similar to the Credit Achievement Program (CAP) option available now for high school students. This year CAP provides a wide assortment of online classes for students 16-21 years old. CAP students complete courses in order to meet graduation requirements. Since August, five students have already met the district and state requirements for graduation utilizing CAP.
Groveport Madison High School Principal Donis Toler looks toward next year for the ability to provide even more flexibility for students who need to recover missing credits.
"Through the Cruiser Academy Conversion School, students will receive the same credit recovery process that is now being offered by CAP this year. But, next year the Cruiser Academy will provide the ability to earn course credit during non-traditional school hours through our Twilight Program," said Toler. "This evening program will focus on second semester freshmen students who have failed first semester courses. Some Twilight students will remain enrolled in the traditional classroom during the school day and then, in order to make up their work missed in the first semester, they will attend Twilight in the evening."
The third offering available to students at the Cruiser Academy is called: "Promise," which is aimed at students who are 19-22 years old who have not completed the high school courses in order to earn a high school diploma. These students will be offered evening courses so they can work during the day and complete their high school program at night.
District officials have not determined where they will house CAP. They are looking for a site off of the high school campus. They will also apply for a start-up grant in order to fund the program in its first few years of operation.
McKenzie said students who enroll in CAP will have benefits that were not possible in the regular high school setting.
"The students who attend CAP will receive a personalized education, one that will actually be tailored to each individual's needs," said McKenzie. "Many of these students will be afforded a second chance to make up the credits they are lacking and some may even earn enough credits to receive a Groveport Madison diploma."
Traditional high school students will benefit as well.
"With a number of struggling students attending CAP, those taking traditional courses at our high school will be more likely to meet the state requirement of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)," said McKenzie. "Our teachers may be able to increase course offerings and possibly provide more challenging courses. While CAP opens up a lot of doors that may have been closed to many struggling students, it may also allow for more flexibility for those students in our traditional high school."
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