I work at a private school Orsch here in the same city as the Gunnison RE1J school district.  All but one of my children also attend the private school.  I have one in Gunnison Middle School, 3 full time at Orsch, and a high schooler that goes part-time to Orsch and to Gunnison High School.  I am going on 3 years experience with Orsch and over twelve years experience with RE1J.

I know this is a lot of personal info about myself. Why should I be telling the world?  The reason is that two weeks ago RE1J slapped the faces of many parents and professionals who only want the best for children and their education.  Of course this is not literal but the sting could be felt.

Orsch has been a private school since 2008 and within a few years has grown in its quality teachers, its facility and of course the number of students looking for a way to learn not typical to the traditional school.  Orsch now has over 70 students.  Wow in 5 years to have grown by 1500%!!!!  Now this does not happen by chance.  Jackie Burt who established Orsch saw a need for her own children and others in the community that wasn't being met in the traditional setting at the public school.  She took her own experiences and knowledge of teaching without the restrictions of the public school and molded, formed and constructed a thriving school.  

Over the years Jackie has been approached and also proposed herself for a relationship with the district.  Up until several months ago there was little progress in this relationship.  Around the beginning of the school year she was approached by a few of the district's board of directors.  There seemed to be a possibility of some kind of relationship, possibly a charter.  Jackie and her husband spent many hours planning what the relationship could be and also researching the legalities.  There time was spent planning for something that they thought could be a possibility only to get to February 25th to be ambushed by the board of directors, teachers from the district and parents with students that attend the public school.

As a parent and teacher I had deep feelings as to what happened at this meeting.  Not only was there not a public notification so that supporters could attend but it was obvious who ever set this up had a goal in mind and it wasn't to give Orsch a fair opportunity.  

Unit #4

I feel I have a lot of experience with both systems.  My kids have thrived at Orsch.  I have a teenager that was bullied and not given much attention at the public school.  At Orsch he has had opportunities to lead, learn to take responsibilities and learn at a rate that fits him.  He also allowed to fail and then learn from his mistakes for mastery.  This is key that his education fits him.  We (in education) talk of differentiation and 21st Century Skills but struggle to implement.  At Orsch this is ongoing all day long.  Of course the school board doesn't know what it is like at Orsch since they have never bothered to come spend a day let alone an hour.  My twins have had trouble reading and writing but are thriving now because of the one on one time they get several times a week.  I don't think that any of my children got one on one time with content areas they struggled in at the public school.  

There are many aspects or Orsch that I like versus the public school.  I do believe the public schools have much to offer too.  My daughter at the middle school has amazing teachers.  But I think that is the whole point to education not one form fits all.  The public school meets the needs of a lot of students but not all and that's where Orsch and other schools like it fit in.  Orsch meets the needs of the students that don't fit the cookie cutter shape.

It would have been great to have been told by the board that they were having a meeting and wanted the community to attend.  I would have been there and I know that other parents and teachers from Orsch would have been there.  Jackie actually thought it would be with only board members and so did not talk to parents and others about attending.  

Unfortunately though the intentions of the board wasn't for a public meeting but for a private yet very public ambush.