Lakeville's School Board Approves Orchard Lake Elementary Impact Academy

Despite a bit of controversy, Lakeville's School Board approved a plan Tuesday to offer the Impact Academy for grades K-3 at Orchard Lake Elementary School beginning this fall.

The pilot program has been a source of contention for weeks with teachers and parents expressing concern they, or their students, may be pushed out of the school if the academy was implemented. The district held several public meetings to hear from constituents and staff were held to answer questions.

The Impact Academy is a significant departure from traditional learning, in many ways. The cost-neutral pilot program will group students by their skill level in reading, math and writing, instead of age or grade. It allows students to learn, and grow, at their own pace. The curriculum focuses on integrated studies, and real-world problems are connected to learning.

Parents expressed concern about a lack of communication over the program, and lamented the fact OLE parents and staff weren't a bigger part of the planning or committee charged with investigating implementation.

Accoridng to SunThisweek, School Board Chair Roz Peterson said staff limited communication because they didn't want to disseminate information on something not yet approved by the School Board.

As for worried teachers, Oxton told SunThisweek that some anchor-teacher positions would be posted district-wide and could lead to moving OLE teachers to other schools.

In the end, the unanimous approval was emotional for some parents and staff, according to SunThisweek.

Learning Specialist Julene Oxton, who was instrumental in bringing forth the program, left the meeting with tears in her eyes, the report said.

“I’m so excited for the kids,” Oxton told SunThisweek. “It means a lot of change in the future for kids that will be good. We will get them ready for the 21st Century, and I’m excited about being part of that.”

Approval also required the creation of a business plan that would detail implementation of the academy in fourth and fifth grades in coming years.

The academy will be housed in Orchard Lake's media center, and renovation and supplies of the space will be donated.

The program will have room for 108 students in year one, with registration beginning in April.

Lakeville Patch will have more on the story as it develops.