Organizers say a new non-profit charter school will offer Flint area students a unique learning experience.
Starting in the fall of 2019, the Flint Cultural Center Academy will enroll 300 students in kindergarten through 5th grade. Eventually, the plan is to expand the school to K through 8th grade and increase the student population to 650.
Sloan Longway executive director Todd Slisher says, as part of their instruction, the students will spend 90 minutes a day in Flint’s arts and science institutions.
“How many schools do you know that comes with their own world class performance venue, or the state’s largest and most technologically advanced planetarium or one of the best art collections in the state,” Slisher told the crowd at the groundbreaking in Flint.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is putting $35 million toward construction and operation of the new school.
Organizers expect the academy’s students will come from Flint and surrounding Genesee County communities.
Flint Community Schools officials are not concerned about the new charter.
"Flint Community Schools is keenly focused on improving student opportunities and achievement. With the announcement of Scott Middle School opening and the recent grant provided by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to Flint Community Schools for renovations at Southwestern Classical Academy, we're seeing positive momentum in the district," says Diana Wright, Flint Community Schools Board of Education president.
The various institutions in the Flint Cultural Center plan to continue not only educational programs for other schools in Genesee County, but also continue to provide outreach programs in those schools as well.
