Scott Williams swillliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano School Board members are considering whether to renew the district’s charter school for another five years.
LEADS Primary Charter School serves students in 4-year-old kindergarten through second grade with a special “inquiry-based” curriculum designed to help students develop independent learning skills.
The charter school, which is housed inside the district’s Hillcrest Primary School, has been available to about 72 students annually since it started five years ago.
Funded through the district’s regular $38 million budget, LEADS is overseen by its own governing board.
Some board members have praised the LEADS program, while some have questioned its impact within the district. Parents also have voiced concerns about how their children transition from LEADS to a traditional curriculum starting in third grade.
The School Board’s initial five-year authorization for a charter school expires at the end of the current school year.
Among the board’s options are shutting down the charter school, renewing it for another specific time period, and expanding it to include more grades or classrooms.
The board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the district board room at Shawano Community High School.