Arcadia Charter School

Arcadia Charter School
Arcadia Charter School
Location
Northfield, Minnesota United States
Coordinates	44°26′22.5″N 93°11′6″W / 44.439583°N 93.18500°WCoordinates: 44°26′22.5″N 93°11′6″W / 44.439583°N 93.18500°W
Information
Type	Public Charter
Established	2001
Faculty	17.29
Grades	6–12
Enrollment	120
Website	https://www.arcadiacharterschool.org/

"Artech School" and "ARTech Charter school" redirect here. For other uses see Artech.

Arcadia Charter School (often referred to as ARTech Charter School) is a project-based 6–12 charter school located in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. The school has previously been known as South-Eastern Minnesota School of Arts and Technology prior to 2003,^[1] and Northfield School of Arts and Technology from 2003 to 2012.^[2]

History and curriculum

A community group that included Jim Blaha, Winona Estes, Maryrose Gondeck, Keith Johnson, Leisa Irwin, Paula Manor, Anne Mikkelson and Griff Wigley originally founded Northfield School of Arts and Technology in 2001, with the purpose of creating a project-based learning environment similar to New Country School in Henderson.

Today, Arcadia has 4 advisories(similar to traditional classrooms) that students may work on independent projects in. There are 2 Middle school advisories and 2 High school advisories. Middle School students are required to take "CORE" classes that include Art, Social studies, Math, Language, Choir, and Science. Math is required for all High school students, and 9th graders have to take 9th grade literature and 9th grade composition. High school students are required to have a certain number of credits in order to graduate, and can get them through elective classes (non-required classes) or independent projects.

Governance

School board

The school is an independent school district, governed by a board of 9.

The first school board meeting occurred on October 25, 2001. Paula Manor chaired the board until the Spring of 2002. Maryrose Gondeck ("Maryrose Block" until autumn 2004) then chaired the board until spring 2005. It is currently chaired by Sheri Acosta.^[3]

Directorship

Northfield School of Arts and Technology is currently directed (a "director" is similar to a traditional principal) by Patrick Exner.

• Leisa Irwin (2003 – 2004)
• Timothy Goodwin (2004 – 2008)
• Simon Tyler (2008 – 2011)
• Ryan Krominga (2011 – 2015)
• Patrick Exner (2015 – 2016)

Renewable energy

Artech is on a team called Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon, which is a team of 100 different schools in Minnesota reducing as much energy as possible in 3 years.

Solar panels

During the summer of 2008, Artech installed a 2.8 Kilowatt solar panel system, and has since seen a decrease in electrical bills.

Greenhouse

A group of students are looking to build a greenhouse at Artech. The cost-estimate to build the greenhouse is $12,000. among the Vegetables it will grow are Turnips, Basil, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Lettuce, Onions, and Spinach.

Sustainable energy ("green") team

Indeed, Artech also has a team focused solely on reducing the school's impact on the environment, lowering energy bills, and reducing the trash coming from the school. Some ideas they have for accomplishing these tasks are installing a Wind turbine, taking out light fixtures, and collecting runoff water.

Events

Thanks-Give

Thanks-Give is a special fundraiser at Artech, where people pay to do stuff such as throwing pies at teachers. At the end of the event, all 4 advisories dress up their teachers and act out a scene that falls into a certain category for the year. Thanks-Give had an Auction until 2008, when the auction was created as a separate event.

Auction

The Artech Auction, led by a guest auctioneer, was separated from Thanks-Give in 2008. it is actually 2 separate auctions; one live and one silent. Friends of Artech donate services to be auctioned off. Before the auction starts, there is also a potluck dinner.

Arts for Martin

Arts for Martin is an event celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is generally low-key compared to other events, such as Thanks-Give. In this event, students, teachers, and community members alike perform arts such as Interpretive dance, poetry, and singing.

Earth day concert

On earth day, students, staff, and community members perform downtown to promote environmental issues. 2008 was this event's first year.

Particularly short play festival

Artech's Particularly Short Play Festival features many student-written, student-directed plays, all less than 10 minutes in length.

Artech bike-a-thon

On May 24, 2008, a group of students organized 4 bike rides (8-mile, 20-mile, 35-mile, and 65-mile rides). Community members paid $10 to ride, which went towards the Artech solar project. Unlike other fundraisers the school has held, the bike-a-thon has not happened annually, although it may come again to raise money for other projects.

Student population

Arcadia Charter School currently holds roughly 120 students and 93.3% of whom are white.^[4] 22% of students are on a special education program.^[5]

References

1. "Northfield Planning Commission : Resolution #2002-011". Weblink.ci.northfiled.mn.us. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
2. Roorda, Allison. "Northfield School of Art and Technology gets a name change". Northfield News. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 14, 2006. Retrieved 2005-11-27.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 13, 2006. Retrieved 2005-11-27.

External links

• Arcadia Charter School