Charter school may replace Pike Elementary

Students could again fill the halls and classrooms at Pike Elementary School next fall under a proposal that will go to the Colorado Springs School District 11 board this week.

The administration is recommending the district allow the new Academy for Advanced & Creative Learning, a K-8 charter school, to move into Pike this summer.

The proposed location is part of a four-year contract between the charter and D-11 that the board will vote on at its regular meeting Wednesday.

The board approved the school in December, contingent on the final contract.

The district can’t charge charters rent, but it can assess fees for maintenance and other services, said Kris Odom, D-11 executive director of procurement.

Pike, located at  2510 N. Chestnut St., closed in May after the board realignment plan that closed eight schools.

In July, the district agreed to rent space at Pike to the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony at a base cost of $2,200 a month, according to a contract.

The district also moved its records storage and records management offices into the school, and uses some space for storing equipment.

If the charter school moves into Pike, the records management functions could remain there for one year, but the Youth Symphony would have to move out, Odom said.

She said she is looking for space in another district facility for the symphony, which needs office space and evening rehearsal space.

Youth Symphony officials could not be reached Friday for comment.

Last year, the district began discussing a partnership with the youth symphony and other community groups about using excess space at Wasson High School.

The administration was recommending closing Wasson orconverting it to a performing arts magnet school with no attendance boundaries.

The board, however, a year ago voted 5-2 to keep Wasson open as a comprehensive high school and directed the administration and school staff to develop a four-year plan.

The study was to have been presented by Jan. 30, but it was delayed until this month and is due to be presented to the board on March 17.

Because the youth symphony was in need of a home, the district offered space at Pike on a one-year contract with an option to renew for a second year.

Deputy Superintendent Mike Poore, who worked on that partnership and several others as schools were closed and consolidated, said Pike is a good fit for the Academy for Advanced & Creative Learning, which expects about 150 students when it opens in the fall.

It is open to all students but will target gifted children and those who excel in one area but struggle in others — groups that often don’t do well in traditional school environments.

Academy Director Nikki Myers said Pike would be a perfect space for the school and meets one of the key requirements of being centrally located and easily accessible.

She said about 145 students from throughout the Pikes Peak region and as far away as Pueblo have submitted “intent to enroll” forms.

For more information on the school, visit www.academyacl.org.