WALA will close doors Wednesday

9:35 p.m. update

A school fair is being planned for parents to explore other education options

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Area Language Academy will close its doors Wednesday following its sponsor’s decision to stop authorizing the school.

Volunteers of America-Minnesota, which has served as the authorizing organization for the K-8 dual immersion charter school since it was opened in 2005, announced Wednesday it was confirming its April decision not to renew its contract with the academy.

On Tuesday, VOA reviewed the findings of an independent evaluation by Cambridge Consultants, which assessed 34 of the state’s lowest-performing schools.

“Really it wasn’t necessarily anything in that report that was news to us,” said VOA’s Molly McGraw Healy. “It was just that our concerns were repeated in that report. Another objective source saw those same problems.”

Low student test scores, lack of curriculum and poor school board oversight of finances were among the major issues cited by VOA.

The contract will end and the district will cease to exist June 30; on July 1, the property reverts back to owner Mark Ossenfort.

Area legislators failed to secure last-minute legislation that would have allowed WALA to secure a new sponsor before next school year.

The 130 students at WALA will have the opportunity to enroll in other area school districts; the files of those who do not will be transferred to Worthington District 518.

“Staffing is our primary concern,” said District 518 Superintendent John Landgaard. “Depending on the number of students, we could be adding additional staff to make sure that we keep our class sizes appropriate.” An addition to Worthington Middle School is already under way to deal with the district’s continuously increasing enrollment.

Director Tonja Cantú said WALA will host a school fair for parents and students to explore their options from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday; representatives of several districts — Round Lake-Brewster, District 518, Ellsworth and Worthington Christian School — have confirmed they will attend.

Even in light of the closure, “We’ve really had so many accomplishments,” Cantú reflected. “Our main concern is the kids and their well-being in and out of school. Our staff has assisted the families of our students when they needed winter jackets, food, help paying the utilities bills. They’ve just been wonderful.”

Work to close WALA will continue through the summer, said Justin Testerman, VOA director of education programs. The school’s assets must be distributed and any funds remaining after the bills and employees are paid will go to the Minnesota Department of Education.

“There are different needs within our school, and I think that our students have really progressed. I’m very confident that after the transition period that they will succeed in other schools as well,” Cantú continued. “The parent support and parent involvement in our school is greater than in any school that I’ve ever been a part of.”

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Area Language Academy will close its doors Wednesday following its sponsors decision to stop authorizing the school.

Volunteers of America-Minnesota, which has served as the authorizing organization for the K-8 dual immersion charter school since it was opened in 2005, announced Wednesday it was confirming its April decision to not renew its contract with the academy.

On Tuesday, VOA reviewed the findings of an independent evaluation by Cambridge Consultants, which assessed 34 of the state’s lowest-performing schools.

“Really it wasn’t necessarily anything in that report that was news to us,” said VOA’s Molly McGraw Healy. “It was just that our concerns were repeated in that report. Another objective source saw those same problems.”

Low student test scores, lack of curriculum and poor school board oversight of finances were among major issues cited by VOA.

The contract will end and the district will cease to exist June 30; on July 1, the property reverts back to owner Mark Ossenfort.

Area legislators had earlier championed a last-minute push to pass legislation that would have allowed WALA to secure a new sponsor before next school year, but it did not pass.

The 130 students at WALA will have the opportunity to enroll in other area school districts; the files of those who do not will be transferred to Worthington District 518.

For the rest of the story, read tomorrow's Daily Globe.

Tags: wala, education, news, breakingnews, news, worthington, wala, close