{"id":1459890,"date":"2022-05-02T08:01:03","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T12:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1459890"},"modified":"2022-05-02T08:01:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T12:01:32","slug":"no-politics-public-school-in-colorado-sees-huge-growth-in-just-one-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-politics-public-school-in-colorado-sees-huge-growth-in-just-one-year\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018No Politics\u2019 Public School In Colorado Sees Huge Growth In Just One Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fno-politics-public-school-in-colorado-sees-huge-growth-in-just-one-year%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1459890&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>It seems a lifetime ago when The Federalist <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2021\/09\/13\/how-rural-colorado-parents-created-a-no-politics-public-school-in-just-one-year\/\">introduced<\/a> you last fall to Merit Academy in Woodland Park, Colorado. It\u2019s a no-politics public school designed and overseen by local parents, opened in just one year of intense planning and work. These past seven months have seen this public contract school grow and flourish, despite many challenges.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you think back to where we were a year ago, it is surreal,\u201d says Gwynne Pekron, Merit\u2019s director of development and chief action officer, beaming. \u201cThis was a dream for many, but a vision to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merit Academy is a classical, Core Knowledge school that opened on August 23, 2021, to 184 full-time students and more than 80 part-time homeschool students. The parents and community members who built Merit sought an education that would challenge children and build lasting friendships, without the controversial politics often found in public schools.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMerit Academy is a shining example of our virtues of valor, goodness, and perseverance,\u201d reflected local parent Heather Scholz. \u201cIt meets the demand of parents who have given up on the direction of modern schools.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When we last checked in with Merit Academy, they were working hard in the classroom basement of Faith Lutheran Church, which generously opened its doors to Merit when the school\u2019s board struggled to find a space big enough to accommodate parent demand. Where are they now?<\/p>\n<p>After calling both Faith Lutheran and Mountain View Methodist churches home, Merit Academy is now in its \u201cstart-up Bear Den\u201d at a re-purposed hardware store in a local strip mall. Outside recess space was kindly offered by neighboring Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church. Classroom walls are portable, lined with sound blankets to alleviate noise.<\/p>\n<p>From these walls hang children\u2019s artwork and school projects, ranging from idioms to drawings of George Washington to designs of engineered future cities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor the first time, my son doesn\u2019t ask for a \u2018sick day,\u2019\u201d says Tarin McNeese, a sixth-grade parent. \u201cThis is not to say it\u2019s easy\u2014he works at it\u2014but when challenged, his teachers guide him. I personally appreciate the school\u2019s transparency with what is taught.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Merit Bears study science, English, history, reading, mathematics, Latin, language lab, and writing. In the halls, one hears lively songs of the upcoming spring performance, recitations of numbers study, and discussions of what it means to be valorous, one of the five Merit virtues.<\/p>\n<p>The classes are driven by Merit\u2019s vision: students prepared for success in a free society, promoting civic responsibility, and contributing their talents in a flourishing republic by pursuing beauty, truth, and good.<\/p>\n<p>The desire for choice is stronger than ever, not only in this beautiful mountain community but across the nation as charter school enrollments climb. In November 2021, this school district had its first contested school board election in more than a decade, and Merit\u2019s existence, school choice, and critical race theory were all on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>All four school-choice candidates swept the election, but their change agenda faces fierce resistance from the defeated minority. The new board majority is addressing the taxpayers\u2019 concerns about district facilities operating at approximately 50 percent capacity. They are committed to stopping the 20-year trend of severely declining enrollment and family exodus. <\/p>\n<p>The local school district was losing families who decided to live elsewhere or place their children in public and private schools outside Teller County, a picturesque rural location encompassing Pike\u2019s Peak and adjacent to Colorado Springs. To bring families back, the new school board members support a parent\u2019s right to know what is being taught. They support Merit Academy and school choice for parents. They plan to increase staff salaries and right a ship that has been listing for 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>While holding her two-year-old, Nicole Waggoner, one of Merit\u2019s founders, said, \u201cMerit adds educational choice many people want. These families appreciate our virtues, our curriculum, and our school, so our enrollment numbers are through the roof. We\u2019re drawing families up the pass [from Colorado Springs], which contributes to a thriving community.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-271596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit1-768x432-1.jpg 768w\" \/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption class=\"col-12 col-md-6 body-xs px-15 pe-md-0 ps-md-30 py-15 m-0 text-center\">Image courtesy Merit Academy.<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Seeing smiling faces in the \u201cBear Den,\u201d one may wonder what challenges Merit Academy has overcome. \u201cStarting a school is not easy,\u201d reflected Pekron, \u201cbut it is worth it, especially when you hear your kids talking about the War of 1812, how a cat\u2019s eyes adjust at night, or how they acted responsibly that day. It\u2019s worth every breath.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, what are the biggest challenges now? Pekron paused, then said: \u201cNo matter how deep the vision and how detailed the plan, the biggest challenge is being at the mercy of others.\u201d Glancing out the window, she continued, \u201cAs a contract school, grant foundations did not understand we were cut from the same cloth as a charter school, but different. Most said, \u2018Come back when you are chartered.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite those financial disappointments, the most touching and inspiring funding came from grassroots contributions and encouraging words from supporters all over the country following the September 2021 Federalist article. To you, Merit Academy is deeply grateful.<\/p>\n<p>One of Merit\u2019s house mottos is \u201cFortune favors the brave.\u201d This spring, Merit Academy has had greater financial support, with grants and donations totaling more than $400,000. Merit board member Mary Sekowski said, \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to receive these blessings of needed financial support that support start-up expenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Seed funding isn\u2019t the only thing start-up schools struggle with. \u201cThe facilities piece has been more difficult,\u201d said Waggoner. \u201cThere are few available spaces for demanded growth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Woodland Park lies west of Colorado Springs at a stunning 8,500 feet elevation. As in most mountain communities, few existing buildings could house a school. Merit\u2019s facility challenges landed it in an old hardware store, one of the only large-enough spaces open.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit2-1024x489-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-271595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit2-1024x489-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit2-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit2-768x367-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit2.jpg 1431w\" \/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption class=\"col-12 col-md-6 body-xs px-15 pe-md-0 ps-md-30 py-15 m-0 text-center\">Pikes Peak as seen from Woodland Park, courtesy of Gwynne Pekron.<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>While many would view Merit\u2019s experience as a struggle, the newly elected school board recognized a community need to charter Merit and sought a win-win solution for Merit\u2019s space needs. The district\u2019s declining enrollment leaves district taxpayers with a hefty burden to maintain partially empty buildings, costing more than $2.6 million annually.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe more you spend on buildings, the less you spend on students,\u201d noted Sekowski. \u201cTaxpayers prefer their tax dollars support an increase in staff salary or a boost in student programming rather than pay for half-empty buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Due to declining enrollment, the district\u2019s building space is at approximately 51 percent of functional capacity, according to a Denver consulting firm the district hired last fall. The capacity is forecasted to decrease to 32 percent at the middle school building and 35 percent at the high school in four years. The taxpayer cost of operation and maintenance for these two buildings alone exceeds $1.5 million per year.<\/p>\n<p>Recognizing Merit\u2019s need for space to grow as a new district charter school, the district explored the possibility of offering Merit space at the half-capacity district middle school, which would decrease district facility expenditures and honor high community support for Merit Academy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith Merit paying the building expenses, district funds will be redistributed to students and staff, not spent on underutilized building space,\u201d Waggoner stated. \u201cBesides saving taxpayers money, it honors previous community commitments to learning by using these spaces for their original intent \u2014 the education of children. This is especially timely with district consultants discussing school closures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This idea generated resistance from a minority in the community that closely resembles nationwide opposition to newly elected conservative school boards. This group has posted vitriol on social media, saying things like \u201cF\u2014 Merit\u201d on Facebook, protesting at local school board meetings, yelling at and heckling the newly elected directors, using public comment periods to call directors \u201cracist\u201d and accuse them of trying to establish religion, and identifying with national efforts to stifle charter schools and school choice. One of the new school board directors even had his truck keyed during a board meeting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit3-1024x756-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-271594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit3-1024x756-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit3-300x221-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit3-768x567-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merit3.jpg 1431w\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center g-0 mt-10\"><figcaption class=\"col-12 col-md-6 body-xs px-15 pe-md-0 ps-md-30 py-15 m-0\">Image courtesy Merit Academy.<\/figcaption><div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<p>\n        <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><br \/>\n        <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span>Merit Academy \/ courtesy photo\n      <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In March, students celebrated Dr. Seuss, wearing mustaches and reading Dr. Seuss books. As if written for Merit Academy and all parent-initiated schools out there, Dr. Seuss advised, \u201cIf you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yes, it is worth it. Despite its many challenges, Merit Academy thrives, with steadfast community support. The school opened in fall 2021 with nearly 200 students and a large waitlist. Its 2022-23 enrollment is forecasted to grow to more than 370 full- and part-time students, with additional students on its still-large waitlist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are no longer just a hope or a dream,\u201d Waggoner reflected. \u201cMerit Academy is the school many families have hoped for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about Merit Academy or support it, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/merit.academy\">https:\/\/merit.academy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<p>\n  John Dill is director of the Merit Academy school board and a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It seems a lifetime ago when The Federalist introduced you last fall to Merit Academy in Woodland Park, Colorado. It\u2019s a no-politics public school designed and overseen by local parents,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":737,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1459890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1459890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/737"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1459890"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1459890\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1459890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1459890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1459890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}