HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 02-08 North St. Paul draws new charter school PIONEER PRESS 2/8/2016 Main
North St. Paul draws new charter school
50 enrolled at elementary focused on personalized learning, technology
Homeroom > North Metro Flex
By Sarah Horner
shorner 12ioneer�2ress.com
A new elementary school is coming to North St. Paul.
North Metro Flex, a charter school focused on small class sizes, personalized learning and technology,
will open in the north suburb in late August or early September.
The school is opening a year later than first scheduled after board members opted to allow more time for
marketing and renovations at the old Aetrium Inc. building it moved into on the 2300 block of Helen
Street.
So far, it appears the marketing has paid off. About 175 people attended an open house held at the school
site Jan. 30 and some 50 students have already enrolled, said Kathy Hanson, one of the five board
members that will oversee North Metro Flex.
"It was a testament to the hard work that everybody did to get ready for this and that we absolutely hit the
nail on the head in choosing this community," Hanson said of the large crowd that turned out for the
open house. "You don't really know when you are building (a program) if they will come, but they came
out in droves... We were beaming at the turnout because it means we did the right thing and are serving a
community that really needs this."
The school lies within the boundaries of public school District 622, which serves North St. Paul,
Maplewood and Oakdale. It is the only elementary charter school in that area, according to school staff.
It aims to serve families looking for smaller class sizes than they might find in traditional public schools
and a responsive and flexible teaching style that can be tailor-made to meet individual student needs, said
Sue Furick, vice president of academics.
Technology will also play a prominent role, Furick said. Interactive whiteboards will be installed in each
classroom and students will have access to chromebooks to complete work. The school board is also
considering adding a gaming component to the school's curriculum for visual learners.
The state authorized the charter school to serve grades kindergarten through 12th grade, but it will open
as a K-4 school. Additional grades will likely be added down the road, Furick said.
"We have a lot of respect for the local school districts but we heard from families that they were looking
for a school that was a little smaller," Furick said. "Our kindergarten classes won't go above 20 students
and classes in grades 1 through 4 won't go above 25... that (allows for) a really good environment for
monitoring student needs."
The tuition free school will provide busing to students who live within District 622 and require students
to wear uniforms.
It was the personalized learning that largely convinced Marta Maldonado to sign her daughter up for
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North Metro Flex next year.
Karmen, 7, is only in second grade but she reads at a fifth or sixth grade level, Maldonado said.
Her elementary school in the traditional public school district wasn't able to find a way to keep her
challenged and engaged, Maldonado said.
"She cannot get the direct attention she needs," Maldonado said. "That is something I really like about
the smaller class sizes at (North Metro Flex)."
She said she's also hopeful that a smaller school community will make for better direct communication
between the parents and the school board.
o
r,
Bobbi Jo Trinka, left, of North St. Paul talks with principal Terri Privette during a tour of North Metro
Flex in North St. Paul on Thursday. Trinka's sister, Sonia Trinka, 5, and her son, Armani Diaz, 6, check
out the school's computers. PIONEER PRESS: SCOTT TAKUSHI
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