Penn Hills charter school opens
-
Kristen Priganc, right, principal of the new Imagine Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, speaks Monday at the school's open house. The school, open in the former William Penn Elementary building, has 202 students in kindergarten to the second grade. -
Parents and children walk into the new charter school in Penn Hills during the open house and tour.
Share with others:
For most of the summer, the hallways of the old William Penn Elementary School in Penn Hills have been teeming with construction crews and school officials eager for classes to begin.
On Monday night, the school at 200 Penn School Drive was on display to the public before it opened to students Wednesday as the region's newest charter school -- Imagine Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship.
"In terms of physical space, it is very much a traditional school building," principal Kristen Prignac said. "But it is the work we do with the kids inside that will set us apart."
Ms. Prignac said in time the charter school's students will turn the structure into their own community, with its own government, bank, civic organizations and businesses. The goal: Educate children and prepare them to become responsible and informed citizens, armed with the ability to solve problems creatively and communicate effectively.
"They will have the opportunity to take over the building to make it look like what a community would look like," she said. "This school will come alive with the work that they do and, as a staff, we are excited to see what that will look like."
This week's open house was designed in part to let the community see what the region's newest charter school looks like -- and also to attract additional students.
Before the open house, Ms. Prignac said 202 students in kindergarten through second grade were officially enrolled. She was hoping to start the new school year with 250 students.
The charter school plans to add another grade each year until it reaches the eighth grade.
The charter school is free for students. It is funded by Penn Hills School District but operates independently, offering an educational program that differs from what is available in district schools.
Imagine Penn Hills is the first charter school within the Penn Hills School District boundaries. About 469 students in the district attend charter schools in neighboring school districts as well as cyber schools.
First Published August 25, 2011 4:42 am
