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HOLLAND, Mich. — Parents are concerned for the future of a popular elementary school program in Zeeland that is described as a public-private hybrid, according to a report in the Holland Sentinel.
The Innocademy is a K-5 operation that has grown to 150 students since it opened four years ago as a pilot program, Superintendent Dave Barry of Zeeland Public Schools told the Sentinel. The school allows parents to enroll their children year-round, and also allows students to complete coursework via computer from overseas locations to accommodate parents who travel or work abroad and want to take their children along, the Sentinel reported.
Parents were worried because the school principal and one other staff member have departed, according to the Sentinel. Barry said that the program was due for an evaluation because the four-year pilot phase ended June 30, the Sentinel reported.
The Sentinel reported that some of the school’s operations are controlled by a private board, though the students are enrolled in Zeeland Public Schools and meet in a public elementary school. Barry told the Sentinel that the district is “working through some of the details of public employees working with private employees on a common thing.”
SOURCE:
Holland Sentinel, “Future of Innocademy uncertain,” July 24, 2011
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, “Brighton Public, Private Schools Agree to Shared Electives,” July 21, 2011
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