G2S asking for increased enrollment cap.

G2S asking for increased enrollment cap.

AMBER TOWNSHIP — Gateway to Success Academy is asking the West Shore Educational Service District Board of Education to allow the charter school to increase its enrollment cap. The school, located on North Scottville Road in Custer Township, is chartered by the ESD. Currently the school is capped at 125 students. In the four years of its existence, its fall count has been 125 in 2016, 117 in 2017, 125 in 2018 and 118 in 2019, according to superintendent/principal Jamie Bandstra, in a written report to the WSESD board.

“Our board has outlined a strategic plan around three main areas,” Bandstra stated. “The first is the addition of a second middle school classroom. The second is an emphasis on enrolling dropouts from local districts. The third is the addition of homeschool students who can be serviced through our unique virtual learning program.”

Bandstra said the middle school program has been at capacity consistently from the time the school opened. “Local districts would like us to offer more spots in this age group,” he said. Bandstra said he has spoken to all the superintendents of the public school districts within the ESD and they are in support of the request.

G2S is asking for the ESD board to consider increasing the cap to 165 students.

WSESD Superintendent Jason Jeffrey said the board of education will consider the matter at its March meeting.

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