New partnership with Helix bringing charter schools to Baker
BAKER, La. (WAFB) - While the Baker School board is in a tug-of-war with BESE over the future of its failing elementary and middle schools, Superintendent J.T. Stroder started looking for solutions to keep the remaining schools afloat.
“What could we do to maintain our community schools, maintain the school board, maintain the school board’s authority over the schools and really presented us with an option that allowed the board to do that,” explained Stroder.
That option, approved at Tuesday night’s school board meeting, is partnering with Helix Community Schools to turn Baker High School and Park Ridge into type three charter schools. This would mean the school board will stay in place managing policies and finances, the Superintendent will still have authority and relationships with the principals and staff, but Helix will oversee the day-to-day operations at the schools. Both schools will also keep their names, locations, logos, and afterschool programs like athletics and other clubs. However, President of Helix Preston Castille said their academics will change.
“The idea for Baker is to keep all the wonderful traditions of Baker High School and Park Ridge but also bring financial technology to the table,” explained Castille.
Students will have curriculum focused more on STEM, arts, and even fintech, which focuses on things like e-banking and cryptocurrency. With this comes changes to faculty as well. Castille and his academic team are already touring the schools and meeting with staff to decide who can stay on.
“To look at where everybody is and so you do sort of a diagnostic evaluation and then you look at opportunities where each faculty member can grow, we start to restructure and refine,” explained Castille.
All in an effort to bring the Baker School System back to what it used to be.
“A place that had high-performing academics, high-performing athletics and we’re really wanting folks to look at Baker as that place,” said Stroder. “We’re going to return what made Baker, Baker.”
Castille encourages people who may have left to come back home to Baker, “the best is yet to come.”
The school system is hosting a town hall as they begin this transition process. They believe it’s a good opportunity for parents and community members to learn more about their plans and ask any questions. It will be held Monday, April 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Baker High School.
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