Crossroads Charter Academy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Crossroads Charter Academy | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| 215 N. State St. Big Rapids, MI USA |
|
| Information | |
| School district | Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District |
| Superintendent | Ronald G. Schneider |
| Type | Public |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Mascot | Cougars |
| Color(s) | red, white, and blue |
| Established | 1998 |
| Homepage | Link |
Crossroads Charter Academy is a K-12 charter school located in Big Rapids, Michigan in Mecosta County.
Contents |
[edit] History
Originally founded as a K-8 school in 1998, classes met in the former Big Rapids High School building on North State Street.
In 1999, the school added a ninth grade level and continued adding one grade level per year. In August 2002, Crossroads became a K-12 school. In that same year, the school began construction of its new high school building across West Spruce Street. Construction was completed in February 2003, and high school classes moved to that building afterward.
The school held commencement ceremonies for the class of 2003, the school's inaugural class, on May 30, 2003. The first senior class consisted of 23 students.
[edit] Academics
Students who earn satisfactory scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program examination and have a satisfactory grade point average may dual enroll at Ferris State University for credit in place of usual high school courses. Students may also attend the career center or the Math and Science Center, both administered by the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District.
[edit] Athletics
The school participates in several sports, including men's soccer, co-ed cross-country track, women's basketball, men's basketball, women's volleyball, women's soccer, co-ed track, and men's baseball. In 2007, the school added football.
Crossroads Charter Academy was distinguished as the first charter school in Michigan to win a state sports championship when the girls' cross country team won the state finals in 2004. The team won the championship again in 2005.
[edit] Controversy
In 2007, Crossroads faced a crisis of leadership when the school board forced superintendent Dave Vander Goot to resign. His resignation was accepted at a June 21 board meeting.[1] In response to demands by parents to explain the firing, board president Dave Engels said the board is not allowed to discuss personnel issues publicly. At the same meeting, the board accepted the resignations of board members Jeff Thorne and Tina Wood[2], both of whom had served since 1998 and were instrumental in the school's founding.
Since then, there have been calls for the board to be elected by the parents of Crossroads students. As it currently stands, new board members are elected by the existing board, which has led to some members' terms lasting upward of nine years.
[edit] Administration
As of summer 2007, the school had created a position combining the roles of principal and athletic director, roles previously held by Vander Goot and Christine Gruppen, respectively. Steve Locke, a science teacher who had recently become vice-principal, was given the job. Elementary principal Karen Christensen (now Lenz-Wallington) served as interim superintendent. Later, Ronald G. Schneider became superintendent.
