A lack of options for elementary education in the area and a concern for their children’s futures drove parents to start an arts and science school in Clifton Park.
The Saratoga Academy of Arts and Sciences will open its doors to at least 40, 3-to-5-year-old students in September under the direction of Michael Christensen, who developed a plan for the school while working toward his doctorate at the University of Albany.
Christensen’s research on class size and school options led him to consider and evaluate the schools in southern Saratoga County and the Capital District as a whole. In conducting his research, he found that there were no options for parents who desired small class sizes and a focus on creative, critical thinking.
The fact that we have a school choice is positive, said Stella Ritter, secretary of the board and a public school educator. `I am very enthusiastic for the school.`
She said she could see the children fitting into Shenendehowa Central Schools when they complete their elementary education.
`If you can give kids a leg up that’s wonderful,` Ritter said.
His solution to the problem was a new school, which, if Christensen has his way, will expand into a new building before it even opens its doors this fall.
`We are different,` Christensen, the president and headmaster of the Saratoga Academy of the Arts and Sciences, said. ` We have a niche.
Christensen works with seven board members with backgrounds in everything from law to education. The board is still looking to add a few members, especially individuals with arts and science backgrounds, Christensen said.
While Christensen could not comment on the location of the anticipated building, he said it would allow for three pre-school classes and two kindergarten classes, which would provide room for more than 40 additional students, allowing for enrollment of up to 80 students total.
He also said the new building could last the school for more than 15 years as the 25,000-square-foot structure would allow for growth.
The academy plans to add a grade level each year until fifth grade.
Christensen said he is optimistic about the retention of students throughout their elementary education because he said the education will advance the student academically and prepare them to be leaders.
Christensen said he would like to eventually expand the school to include a middle school and high school, but that working through this year was his first priority. He also said it is more difficult to establish middle and high schools because of the greater costs involved.
`I think what we have done for the Capital District is unique,` Christensen said.
He said the board has looked at price points for different types of schools including private schools and day-care organizations. By comparison, he said, the$4,000 tuition at the Saratoga Academy is reasonable.
The high cost of most private schools prevents suburban middle class families from sending their children, eliminating options for those students, Christensen said, which is what he aims to prevent at the Saratoga Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The $4,000 tuition covers the 4-year-old pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade programs, while half-day 3-year-old pre-kindergarten is $3,000 per year.
He said in developing the concept for the school he had to evaluate the way children are taught at the primary and elementary levels in America.
Christensen said a focus on independent learning is important in education. He plans to implement the independent style into the education offered at the academy by allowing children to work in student groups will minimal teacher involvement.
`It’s about planting the seeds for learning,` Christensen said.
His plan is to break students into groups, which would go to different stations throughout the day with varying levels of instruction.
One station would provide students with a structured lesson, while another would provide them an opportunity to incorporate their knowledge without teacher involvement.
In providing an example, Christensen said at one station there may be words affixed to a wall that students can review, while at another station, students would have a box of magnetic letters. He said in this example the students will most likely begin by using the magnetic letters to play without making a connection to the words on the wall, but after awhile they will begin to make words with the letters.
He said this hands-off approach allows students to work at their own pace while encouraging them to work effectively as a group.
In addition to critical thinking and creative learning, the school will also focus on character education with an all school gathering in the morning to review the some of the positive characteristics the school hopes to reinforce including loyalty, honesty and persistence.
The school’s focus is on developing a `thinker,` Christensen said.
`A thinker is a person of integrity who is willing to defend his or her beliefs.`
Christensen said the school would like to offer needs-based tuition assistance to students who may not otherwise be able to afford the school. He said the board was also considering offering a portion of assistance in exchange for services to the school.
Students who attend Saratoga Academy will wear their choice of navy or burgundy polo shirts and khakis, which Christensen said promotes school unity.
`Uniforms help to bring the school together,` he said.
If all goes well with the purchase of a new building, Christensen will have to order quite a few more uniforms.“