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Gillingham approves cutting cyber schoolJul 20, 2012 (Republican & Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Gillingham Charter School is cutting cyber school for the 2012-13 school year. During the board of trustees meeting Thursday, the board approved the decision for the same reasons stated during the work session July 11. At the work session, Christie Werkheiser, director of organizational development, said that Gillingham used a cyber school service to provide Internet teaching for two students who needed it last year; however, these students did not receive the same relational education curriculum as the students in the charter school building. Relational education is the teaching method that Gillingham uses and is based on principles developed by Charlotte M. Mason, a British educator who lived from 1842 to 1923. The Charlotte Mason method of teaching is centered around the idea that education is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life. She stressed using prose books containing full stories, or "whole books," to teach children rather than using textbooks. A cyber school program at Gillingham is planned to be reinstated in about two to three years, which is the soonest the charter school thinks it will be able to create the type of cyber school program that fits its needs, when they will have the technology to connect the cyber students with Skype. The board also approved a change to the school uniform policy. While Lori Quinn, vice president of Gillingham's board of trustees and director of public relations and marketing, said the changes to the policy are not drastic, there are now grade groups, each with a few grade-specific garments that denote lower, middle and upper school students. Quinn also said that they have a new year-round local provider for school uniforms, The Uniform Corner, 213 Route 183, Schuylkill Haven. The new uniform policy is available online at the charter school website. Printed copies are also available in the school office. In other business, Deniece Smith was announced as a new hire for the fifth and sixth grade at $39,000. There was no action taken on the contract with the Simon Kramer Institute, New Philadelphia, as it is still being negotiated. The school is still trying to determine where gym classes will be held during the coming school year, but Quinn said afterschool sports will be held at the institute. The proposed board of trustees meeting and work session dates were also announced. Meetings will now be held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, with an executive session held at 6 p.m. Work sessions will be held the Tuesday of the week prior to the meeting. ___ (c)2012 the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.) Visit the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.) at republicanherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |