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Schools

Science academy in line for $89,450

The state Department of Education grant will help the school expand and attract more students, head teacher says.

By EDDY RAMIREZ
Published August 31, 2005

CRYSTAL RIVER - The Florida Department of Education has agreed to give the Academy of Environmental Science $89,450 to improve the school's curriculum and boost student enrollment.

Last week, the district was notified it would be receiving the grant under the SUCCEED Florida Career Paths program.

The academy cannot spend the money until the state gives a final nod to a revised budget proposal. When the money becomes available, the academy plans to, among other things, hire a teacher's aide, buy more than $10,000 in supplies and textbooks, and invest in computer hardware and software, as well as other programs that would allow students to take online courses at the academy.

"I'm thrilled that we were considered to receive this funding," said the academy's head teacher, Ben Stofchek. "It will help us expand and, hopefully, attract more students to the program."

The academy, in its seventh year, has traditionally struggled to attract more students. High school sophomores, juniors and seniors spend half of each year in a program focused on science, English and in-the-field environmental experiences. Students who attend private schools and who are homeschooled also may enroll. This year, the academy has taken in 47 students. School officials want to raise the number to 60 students per semester.

Besides making its curriculum more appealing, the academy said it wants to create partnerships with local businesses and organizations. In the past, the academy has helped students secure internships with those groups and invited science professionals to serve as mentors and guest speakers. The goal has been to encourage students to pursue environmental science-centered careers.

The academy's grant proposal stated that "if the grant is funded, the academy may pursue enrolling ninth-graders" and "expand the recruitment to other counties and increase the number of homeschool students attending the academy."

But Tuesday, Carl Hansen, the academy's board chairman, said the school has no immediate plans to enroll freshmen or recruit students from other counties.

"It's nowhere near reality at this moment," he said, adding that it might be part of a long-term plan.

In order to open the school to out-of-county students, Hansen said the academy would need to hire more instructors. The one-time grant would not be enough to cover additional teacher salaries, he said.

Another challenge is how to work out a feasible curriculum for out-of county students. Most Citrus students attend the academy for only half a year. The other half of the year they attend their home high school for other subjects such as math and social studies.

"We would need to have much more coordination because we don't teach all the subjects," he said.

Hansen also said freshmen might not be adequately prepared for the academy.

"We're not actively contemplating enrolling ninth-graders at this point," Hansen said. "We may speak to students in the middle schools to take courses in the ninth-grade year that would facilitate enrollment in the following year."

The School Board will vote to approve the grant Sept. 13.

Eddy Ramirez can be reached at eramirez@sptimes.com or 860-7305.

[Last modified August 31, 2005, 01:21:25]