West Fargo parents seemed to warm up to the idea of a ninth-grade academy after meeting with administrators and School Board members Tuesday night.
"When I came here tonight, I was against it," said Linda Schroeder. "Now I'm more in favor of it."
Eight parents attended the informational meeting.
A committee recently recommended the School District build a ninth-grade academy for about 600 students south of Interstate 94 to ease overcrowding at the high school. As the district grows, the building could become a 9-12 high school.
The School Board has yet to decide whether to accept the plan.
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Parents inquired about numerous issues, like how an academy works, but discussion focused on two philosophical areas:
E Why the committee recommended an academy instead of a new school for grades 9-10
E Why sixth-graders shouldn't remain in the elementary schools to make room for ninth-graders in the middle school that opens this fall
Previous committees have determined ninth-graders don't belong with seventh- and eighth-graders, said Superintendent Chuck Cheney.
"Academic-wise and maturity-wise, they don't belong in a middle school," he said.
In addition, if sixth-graders don't move into the middle school this fall, several elementary schools would be short classroom space, Cheney said.
A couple of parents said they hope the School Board doesn't build too conservatively.
One mother said every fall School District officials say the district has more students than it anticipates.
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Parents at the meeting unanimously agreed the community wasn't ready for two 9-12 high schools.
"It's such a new idea to everyone, it's kind of shocking," said one parent. "But I think people could get used to the idea in 10 years."
The cost of the proposed facility would be approximately $12 million. It could open in August 2007.
The next informational meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 13 in the West Fargo High School. The meeting is open to the public.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Erin Hemme Froslie at (701) 241-5534
