Keystone Academy has enrollment of 781, with 289 on waiting list

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
At its regular meeting March 13, the Keystone Academy Board of Directors discussed the school’s enrollment that is at 781 in grades Young 5’s through eighth with a waiting list in every grade.
The total waiting list is 289.
Chris Caulk, liaison from National Heritage Academies, had announced last year that NHA was considering building a new classroom for every grade at Keystone this summer because of the large waiting list.
But, NHA decided to build for another of its school this year so that will not be happening this summer at Keystone.
Also, in February, the board voted to sign a matriculation agreement with Arbor Preparatory High School in Ypsilanti for classes this fall for the Keystone eighth graders who are seeking a high school to attend since Keystone has no classes past eighth grade.
It was learned that Arbor Prep will not be ready for this agreement until the 2015-16 school year.
In other business at the 43-minute meeting the board:
• Discussed the good results on several academic tests and the need to do something different for sixth graders who are scoring lower than they should in some categories;
• Discussed the high scores in reading for the last few years and noted that 93% of students leaving Keystone have a proficiency in reading;
• Discussed the Focus School report required by the state. Keystone is designated a Focus School because there is such a large gap between its highest and lowest testing students. Keystone’s goal is to focus on finding what the disconnect is for English Learners in math, reading, and writing and Black or African American subgroup students in social studies and science and increase state scores by 15% by Spring 2015;
• Heard Principal Keturah Godfrey report on the undefeated girls basketball teams, the Donuts with Dads program that had more than 100 attending, the “Thanks a Latte” celebration with the staff to celebrate the NWEA and MEAP scores (with the school buying the staff an espresso machine), the plan for Godfrey to go to every classroom to explain data and put starbursts on the walls, and the March is Reading Month challenge that will result in Godfrey being covered with sundae toppings if the students succeed;
• Approved the 2014-15 board meetings calendar and the revised 2013-14 school calendar, adding June 16-19 as extra school days because of the snow days taken;
• Informed Principal Godfrey that Teacher Appreciation Week was coming up May 5-8, with a circus theme, and the board wanted to know what the teachers would like the board to purchase for them this year. Godfrey will come back with a suggestion; and
• Learned there is $53,000 in the board’s discretionary fund.
Vice president Amy Gusfa presided at the meeting in the absence of president Vesta Losen who was ill. Carol Manley also was absent from the meeting.