Dakota County charter school a first-of-its-kind for Eagan

A former office building now houses a first-of-its-kind school for Dakota County students Great Oaks Academy located at Blue Cross Road is the first charter school in Eagan disclosed Jill Hutmacher director of locality advance for the city A community charter Great Oaks is a classical learning school whose mission is to cultivate the minds and hearts of our students through a classical liberal arts instruction with instruction that is rigorous literature-rich wondrous and virtuous in a disciplined and engaging atmosphere noted Great Oaks Director Paul McGlynn in an email The second location for the charter which launched in Farmington in the Eagan school welcomed its first class of students on Sept McGlynn mentioned The Farmington campus located at Elm St includes grades K- while the Eagan location situated on a -acre lot is for middle and high school students Charter curriculum Charter schools are independent population schools of choice that do not charge tuition as described by the Minnesota Department of Tuition Launched and operated by parents teachers and society members charter schools are funded by tax dollars and subject to regulation by the Department of Tuition As a general charter Great Oaks Academy is funded by state and federal money McGlynn explained Charter schools can opt for a curriculum that differs from nearby masses schools For example Great Oaks has chosen a classical liberal arts approach that implements phonics proven math instruction works of literature and global history McGlynn revealed Related Articles The rise of AI tools forces schools to reconsider what counts as cheating Historically Black colleges issue lockdown orders cancel classes after receiving threats Trump administration cuts grants for minority-serving colleges declaring them unconstitutional St Paul school board OKs contract with teachers union Here are the details This California town was ravaged by a wildfire Seven years later schools are still recovering It develops moral character in students with an ability to critically think about the world around them and offers them lifelong learning skills he stated We prioritize Great Books from the Western Tradition rooted in ancient Greek and Roman tradition and primary texts instead of textbooks according to the charter We teach Latin and grammar and believe character is as key as intellect Charter schools employ licensed teachers offer services for students who require special-education services and administer state assessments There are approximately charter schools in Minnesota serving roughly students according to MDE Similar to private and parochial schools the new charter school represents competition for Independent School District which includes Burnsville Eagan and Savage As a PreK- Pathways District ISD removes walls and ensures equitable access for all students centers students as decision makers in their learning journeys and promotes a future-focused mindset revealed Aaron Tinklenberg communications director for the district in an email District s Pathways model provides all students with age-appropriate experiences through which they explore possibilities develop the skills and attributes they ll need to succeed find their passions and prepare for their futures he declared Parent s perspective Karrie Krear mentioned her son was in first grade when he started feeling bored at school Parent Karrie Krear at the newly-opened Great Oaks Academy in Eagan on Thursday Sept John Autey Pioneer Press A pupil at Farmington Elementary at the time her son was moving fast through the curriculum she announced Krear met with school executives hoping to find a approach but at the end they noted there was nothing they could do she explained Then Great Oaks began advertising in the district around the same time We were looking for a different and better training reported Krear whose son joined Great Oaks Farmington in and is now a seventh-grader at the Eagan location It s much more rigorous than society school stated Krear who now serves as the Great Oaks Academy Parents Association s chair Students at Great Oaks are taught cursive and begin learning Latin in first grade Krear noted adding that the students do not heavily rely on hardware like iPads or computers in the classroom My son needed extra challenges and Great Oaks has met that she commented They meet the participant where they re at Eagan location Formerly Delta Dental the nearly -square-foot Eagan building was sold to an affiliate of the school SYH Great Oaks Academy LLC for million earlier this year according to documents filed with the Minnesota Department of Revenue In December the Eagan City Council approved up to million in private activity bonds to finance the building acquisition and its renovation according to city council documents Council member Mike Supina cast the sole opposing vote against the bond package As impressed as I am with the school I haven t seen yet the argument that says This is why it benefits your city Supina explained at the council s Dec meeting The remodel of the former office building included the construction of about traditional classrooms art rooms with kilns science labs a band room gymnasium and cafeteria McGlynn commented Dakota County was chosen due to the fewer number of charter schools in the area McGlynn revealed Other charters in the county include Academic Arts High School in West St Paul Seven Hills Preparatory Academy in Burnsville FIT Academy in Apple Valley and Discovery Charter and STEAM Academy in Inver Grove Heights At the Farmington school there are roughly K- students this year The Eagan school now serves students from fifth to ninth grade Related Articles Overnight closure of I- W in Burnsville lane reductions planned this weekend St Olaf football competitor killed in South St Paul shooting that also critically injured another man teen arrested Charges upgraded against South St Paul man accused of fatally shooting his -year-old roommate Victim families co-workers react as woman who bought Burnsville ambush guns is sentenced Suspected drunken driver in crash that killed Apple Valley couple just got off probation court documents show The Farmington site provides us with a centrally located area that is accessible to a multitude of communities McGlynn explained The Eagan site provides our families with a beautiful campus of acres and a wonderful building that fits our limit for upcoming rise Great Oaks Academy tour What Grand opening celebration Where Great Oaks Academy s Eagan campus at Blue Cross Road When Tuesday Oct business leaders invited - p m family and locality invited - p m Details http pipr es Euc ZOT