Post by momto4 on May 22, 2008 8:13:34 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/964753,2_1_AU22_WEST_S1.article
West finds option of magnet school proposal attractive
May 22, 2008
By HEATHER GILLERS hgillers@scn1.com
AURORA -- West Aurora administrators are brainstorming about a magnet school, although the opening of such a school is at least one year off.
School officials envision enrolling 150 students in grades three through eight in the school, which could open as early as August 2009, said Cynthia Latimer, assistant superintendent for student services.
The possibility of a magnet school has received informal interest and encouragement from the School Board.
"We're not giving specific approval to the program. It's like a head nod to proceed to investigate," said board member Neal Ormond.
Magnet schools, which bring together students who excel either overall or in a particular area, are being tested elsewhere in the Fox Valley.
A small science, math and technology magnet school program is slated to begin next year in the East Aurora School District and expand in subsequent years. In Elgin, four high schools operate magnet school programs that allow students to focus on topics from foreign languages to performing arts to engineering. A fifth program, specializing in communications, is scheduled to open in Elgin in August.
"If a child is interested or talented in a particular area (a magnet school program) allows them to go further in that area," said Doug Johnson, regional superintendent of schools for Kane County. "If it's done well and communicated well with parents, I think it can be very positive."
It is not clear yet whether a West Aurora magnet school would specialize in a particular subject area, Latimer said, but it would include advanced coursework and foreign language classes.
Administrators have looked at a range of ages to start the program, but are now focusing on beginning at third grade because "that's more where you start to hit the content in each of the subject areas," Latimer said. The school would admit students who perform at the top of their classes and would include a staff of at least six teachers, she said.
The district has not determined where it would locate the magnet school.
West finds option of magnet school proposal attractive
May 22, 2008
By HEATHER GILLERS hgillers@scn1.com
AURORA -- West Aurora administrators are brainstorming about a magnet school, although the opening of such a school is at least one year off.
School officials envision enrolling 150 students in grades three through eight in the school, which could open as early as August 2009, said Cynthia Latimer, assistant superintendent for student services.
The possibility of a magnet school has received informal interest and encouragement from the School Board.
"We're not giving specific approval to the program. It's like a head nod to proceed to investigate," said board member Neal Ormond.
Magnet schools, which bring together students who excel either overall or in a particular area, are being tested elsewhere in the Fox Valley.
A small science, math and technology magnet school program is slated to begin next year in the East Aurora School District and expand in subsequent years. In Elgin, four high schools operate magnet school programs that allow students to focus on topics from foreign languages to performing arts to engineering. A fifth program, specializing in communications, is scheduled to open in Elgin in August.
"If a child is interested or talented in a particular area (a magnet school program) allows them to go further in that area," said Doug Johnson, regional superintendent of schools for Kane County. "If it's done well and communicated well with parents, I think it can be very positive."
It is not clear yet whether a West Aurora magnet school would specialize in a particular subject area, Latimer said, but it would include advanced coursework and foreign language classes.
Administrators have looked at a range of ages to start the program, but are now focusing on beginning at third grade because "that's more where you start to hit the content in each of the subject areas," Latimer said. The school would admit students who perform at the top of their classes and would include a staff of at least six teachers, she said.
The district has not determined where it would locate the magnet school.