Charter school to focus on global perspectives
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In early 2010, the Baldwin-Whitehall school board voted 8-to-1 against the approval of an application by the Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School for a charter school. But that decision was later overruled by the state Department of Education on appeal.
"Now we see the light at the end of tunnel,'' said Melih Demirkan, a co-founder and president of the board of directors of the new charter school; the first day of classes is set for Aug. 29.
A renovation is under way to convert the former 23,000-square-foot Rolling Hills Manor Assisted Living Center building -- at 600 Newport Dr., Baldwin Township -- into a school.
The non-profit public school will focus on two student constituencies: native speakers of English interested in a curriculum fostering a global perspective and those whose native language is not English.
Charter founders said the Baldwin-Whitehall School District was selected because one of the towns in the district, Whitehall Borough, has the highest refugee population in Western Pennsylvania.
Last year, the district had about 180 students enrolled in English as a Second Language classes in grades K through 12, with the most recent immigrants predominantly from Russia, Bosnia, Somalia, Nepal, Burundi, and Myanmar.
The new charter school will house 120 students in kindergarten through grade five, with grades six, seven and eight to be added over the next three years.
While kindergarten is full, there are a few slots remaining in each of the other grades.
Students must take two world language classes, which will be selected by their parents. There will also be an ESL program.
Besides fulfilling state requirements for mathematics, science, social studies and more, there will be extra-curricular activities such as tutoring, clubs and athletics.
While the school is open to students of any district, Baldwin-Whitehall students are given preference since the charter lies with that district's boundaries.
The district calendar will be followed.
First Published May 26, 2011 5:14 am
