Lakeville High Schools to Get STEM, Business Academies

Big classroom changes are coming to Lakeville's two high schools.

Lakeville North will adjust some of its classroom programming in order to create a "business academy pathway" while Lakeville South is set to pilot a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) academy, which will also offer a "pathway" of academic concentration.

Lakeville's school board heard a report on the new classroom programming at its meeting on Dec. 11. A formal vote to approve the changes will happen at a future meeting.

What do the changes mean for students? First: the academies will allow for real-world opportunities and will give advantages to students who are applying to universities or seeking other post-secondary education options, according to a group of teachers and administrators who presented the plan to the board.

Another upshot: assuming there is room in the classes, and students can find their own transportation to and fro, students at both schools will have an opportunity to cross-pollinate between buildings if they're interested in the academies, according to Dana Cronin, dean and assistant principal and Lakeville South.

According to a Sun Thisweek report, both North and South principals are hooping get both programs in their buildings at some point.

Meanwhile, upon hearing the report, School Board members expressed excitement, mentioning that the new programs—especially the STEM program—offer hope to one day get a K-12 program up and running in the district.

For additional information, visit the Sun Thisweek report or check back to Lakeville Patch for more updates.