Lafayette Charter School celebrates

Facility

hosts grand

re-opening

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

LAFAYETTE -- Peter and Paul Wendinger played polka music as students, parents and teachers at the Lafayette Charter School celebrated their new full-size gym and cafeteria Thursday with a grand re-opening.

The school opened in the former Lafayette Elementary School building in the fall of 1999 with 16 K-8 students. Since then, enrollment has been growing at about 22 percent per year. Enrollment is now nearly 90 students.

Two years ago, the school grew out of its original building that it leases from a Lafayette pipefitter. He agreed to build a 12,000-square foot addition that cost about $800,000 and doubled the size of the school. The addition was completed before school began this fall.

A greenhouse was added in 2003.

Co-lead teacher Sheila Howk said the school's mission is to incorporate agriculture and technology so students appreciate the subjects. Federal start-up grants helped the school create a computer lab and put three computers in each classroom.

"The community really turned out for this," Howk said. "We have a great relationship here between parents and teachers. If people couldn't be here for the open house, they made donations."

Maximum class size is 17 students. The school currently has enough space for 140 students, Howk said.

There have been no physical education or music class cuts in Lafayette, Howk said. Physical education and music classes last 45 minutes every day of the week.

Assemblies each week focus on character education. Students are honored for outstanding achievement which can include helping others. Certificates and large photos of award-winning students are placed in the school hallway.

Student records are watched closely and evaluated during week-long breaks several times a year. Accelerated students are placed in higher grade levels if they meet standards. Students who need help are given more attention.

Students in alternative schools can apply for admission to the Lafayette school.

Seventh-grade teacher Sylvia Kunz said the parent-teacher involvement in the school is far greater in Lafayette than any place else she ever taught.

"Parents really take ownership of this school," Kunz said.

Upper elementary students who want to compete in athletics have the option of playing on Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop or New Ulm teams.

Parents sounded upbeat.

Clark Rieke of Gibbon sent his 12-year-old son Zachary to the Lafayette school this fall to take advantage of more individual attention with smaller class sizes and a way to effect change.

"People come up with a new ideas and present them to the school board who discusses it with parents. The process has created changes," Rieke said. "We're very pleased with it so far."

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com)