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Hughes
Elkton’s new superintendent, Michael Hughes, said that becoming a charter school would be a good move for the Elkton School District.
As a result of the transition, the elementary and high schools would remain in separate buildings, but would be considered one charter school. It would remain a public school and could apply for about $700,000 in grant money. If received, the one-time-only grant would be dispersed over a three-year period.
Hughes said that losing staff to budget cuts has been tough on the district, and while the grant money cannot finance staff salaries, it can fund technology and other costs for an educational program, taking pressure off the district’s general fund. State funding for the schools would not change.
“It gives you this flexibility of how to present lessons to kids,” he said, discussing technologies that the grant could fund.
Before coming to Elkton, Hughes spent four years as the superintendent in Fossil, where the schools became a charter complex. In Fossil, Hughes applied and received the grant money.
“I’ve been through this process,” he said. “To sit back and watch the creativity and excitement of the teachers is awesome.”
As a charter school, only half of the teachers would be required to be licensed, while the other half must be registered — a requirement that Hughes said would allow Elkton flexibility in curriculum by having experts from various fields teach students about their trades.
Charter schools are exempt from some rules that traditional public schools must follow. But charter schools must meet certain levels of student performance to remain open.
Hughes said that if Elkton converted to a charter school, he would want to maintain the current level of licensed staff.
He said he wants community, staff and parent input about the option. Hughes can be reached at 584-2228.
As a result of the transition, the elementary and high schools would remain in separate buildings, but would be considered one charter school. It would remain a public school and could apply for about $700,000 in grant money. If received, the one-time-only grant would be dispersed over a three-year period.
Hughes said that losing staff to budget cuts has been tough on the district, and while the grant money cannot finance staff salaries, it can fund technology and other costs for an educational program, taking pressure off the district’s general fund. State funding for the schools would not change.
“It gives you this flexibility of how to present lessons to kids,” he said, discussing technologies that the grant could fund.
Before coming to Elkton, Hughes spent four years as the superintendent in Fossil, where the schools became a charter complex. In Fossil, Hughes applied and received the grant money.
“I’ve been through this process,” he said. “To sit back and watch the creativity and excitement of the teachers is awesome.”
As a charter school, only half of the teachers would be required to be licensed, while the other half must be registered — a requirement that Hughes said would allow Elkton flexibility in curriculum by having experts from various fields teach students about their trades.
Charter schools are exempt from some rules that traditional public schools must follow. But charter schools must meet certain levels of student performance to remain open.
Hughes said that if Elkton converted to a charter school, he would want to maintain the current level of licensed staff.
He said he wants community, staff and parent input about the option. Hughes can be reached at 584-2228.
