PALESTINE —
The superintendent of the Palestine campus of the University of Texas at Tyler’s Innovation Academy expects the new charter school to open its doors Monday morning with a maximum enrollment of 100 students.
School starts Monday at the Innovation Academy and public schools throughout the state.
Eli Crow, the charter school’s superintendent, told the Herald-Press Wednesday that the first-year academy has reached its maximum 100 students and is currently maintaining a waiting list.
Innovation Academy campuses in Tyler (160 students) and Longview (60 students), which are also entering their first year, have no vacancies either.
“We’ve got some kids on the waiting list (in Palestine and the other campuses),” Crow said. “As space becomes available, we’ll go ahead” and contact persons on the waiting list.
The Innovation Academy will offer grades three through six this school year and add a grade annually until ultimately offering grades three through 12.
Crow said the 100 students “are dispersed quite evenly” between the charter school’s four grades.
“It really comes down to physical capacity for us right now,” Crow said. “If we had more space, we could take more kids.
“The turnout has been good,” he continued. “We’ve had a lot of excitement around what we’re doing.”
The Innovation Academy will feature a shortened, four-hour school day from 8 a.m. to noon, stressing student engagement and parental involvement. Technology- and project-based learning will be at the forefront, school officials have said.
“We have a blended model,” Crow said. After spending four hours in the school setting, “students go off-site and work on-line on their own” for another 90 minutes each school day.
The 5 1/2 hours spent on academics is “comparable to the amount of time students would spend in a public school setting,” he added.
Crow complimented Palestine for welcoming the charter school with open arms.
“We have just been so impressed with the folks there in Palestine,” Crow said. “The mayor (Bob Herrington), the parents, the (Palestine Area) Chamber of Commerce, everybody has been so welcoming, so inviting and everybody’s on the ball.”
Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com
Local News
Innovation Academy to start with full roster
- Local News
-
-
Cartmell Home annual resident fishing event and hamburger fundraiser set
Cartmell Home for Aged will be hosting its annual resident fishing event and hamburger fundraiser next week.
-
Anderson County authorities resolve 2012 murder case
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office investigators have resolved the case of a female murder victim whose remains were found on a local county road in October 2012.
-
West Nile case confirmed in Anderson County
The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the state’s first case of West Nile illness of the season — occurring in Anderson County — on Friday, and is urging residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting the mosquito-borne illness.
-
County judge honored for education efforts
Anderson County Judge Robert Johnston has been honored by the Texas Judicial Academy for going the extra mile to be prepared to handle his duties as county judge.
-
Salute to Armed Forces event re-invented
The Texas State Railroad’s 15th Annual Salute to the Armed Forces event Saturday at the Palestine Depot has been re-invented this year on Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to all branches and all eras of the U.S. military service through its 15th Annual Salute to the Armed Forces event.
-
Police investigating robbery
Palestine Police are continuing to investigate the armed robbery of a local convenience store involving multiple suspects that occurred late Tuesday evening.
-
Boil water notice issued for Elkhart residents
A boil water notice has been issued for City of Elkhart residents. It reads as follows:
Due to a water main line break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required our water system, City of Elkhart PWS id 0010005, to notify customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption. -
Reagan Park Spray ground to open Saturday
The City of Palestine Parks and Recreation Department will kick off the first full season for the Reagan Park Spray Ground with an public opening event this Saturday.
-
Annual Bluegrass Music Festival begins today at Salmon Lake
Bluegrass bands from across the country will descend upon the Grapeland area this week for the 16th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Bluegrass Music Festival, opening today and continuing through Sunday at Salmon Lake Park.
-
Healthy cooking program offered
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Palestine is offering a four-week program starting this Thursday to help diabetics make healthy cooking choices.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Cartmell Home annual resident fishing event and hamburger fundraiser set
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
