May 9, 2015
By: Steve Schulwitz - News Staff Writer, Alpena News
ALPENA - After being unable to strike a reasonable deal with an out-of-state property owner, Bingham Arts Academy in Alpena will be forced to close its doors after the school year ends. Efforts to find common ground on a fair rental rate, as well as find another location in Alpena failed, leaving closure as the only alternative.
Bingham Arts Academy was established as a charter school under Bay Mills Community College and managed under Mosaica Education. It was established in 2004 and has 120 students and 19 employees who handle the academics for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
Principal Christina Siwik said the school board did everything it could to try and reach a different outcome rather than close the school.
"The board worked really hard but the rent would have been just unaffordable and if we don't have a building we don't have a school," Siwik said. "If we can't remain on affordable terms we hurt the education of the students and they don't get as good of an educational experience."
Siwik said the school board and the staff have been working closely with Alpena Public Schools to help get a plan in place to educate parents and the children on where they will have class when the new school year begins. She said there will be a series of meeting to address concerns and answer questions. They take place Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m in the gym at the school.
The move means there will be a loss of employment for the teachers and other staff. Siwik said APS also is helping by exploring possible employment opportunities.
"They have been very helpful and supportive in helping us," Siwik said.
Letters were sent home Wednesday with the students to inform parents of the decision and most talked to their children about why the school will close and what is in store for them moving forward. Siwik said for the most part morale is high, but they are sharing there thoughts and memories about the time they spent at Bingham.
"I told them they will need to do well wherever they go and for them to remain upbeat. Just because the school is closing doesn't mean their education is ending," Siwik said. "We will be doing some special things to make some more happy and positive memories and we'll just make the best of it.
Anyone who has questions about the school closing or the transition can call Siwik at 358-2500.
Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review ... at www.thealpenanews.com.
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ALPENA - After being unable to strike a reasonable deal with an out-of-state property owner, Bingham Arts Academy in Alpena will be forced to close its doors after the school year ends. Efforts to find common ground on a fair rental rate, as well as find another location in Alpena failed, leaving closure as the only alternative.
Bingham Arts Academy was established as a charter school under Bay Mills Community College and managed under Mosaica Education. It was established in 2004 and has 120 students and 19 employees who handle the academics for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
Principal Christina Siwik said the school board did everything it could to try and reach a different outcome rather than close the school.
"The board worked really hard but the rent would have been just unaffordable and if we don't have a building we don't have a school," Siwik said. "If we can't remain on affordable terms we hurt the education of the students and they don't get as good of an educational experience."
Siwik said the school board and the staff have been working closely with Alpena Public Schools to help get a plan in place to educate parents and the children on where they will have class when the new school year begins. She said there will be a series of meeting to address concerns and answer questions. They take place Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m in the gym at the school.
The move means there will be a loss of employment for the teachers and other staff. Siwik said APS also is helping by exploring possible employment opportunities.
"They have been very helpful and supportive in helping us," Siwik said.
Letters were sent home Wednesday with the students to inform parents of the decision and most talked to their children about why the school will close and what is in store for them moving forward. Siwik said for the most part morale is high, but they are sharing there thoughts and memories about the time they spent at Bingham.
"I told them they will need to do well wherever they go and for them to remain upbeat. Just because the school is closing doesn't mean their education is ending," Siwik said. "We will be doing some special things to make some more happy and positive memories and we'll just make the best of it.
Anyone who has questions about the school closing or the transition can call Siwik at 358-2500.
Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review ... at www.thealpenanews.com.
ALPENA - After being unable to strike a reasonable deal with an out-of-state property owner, Bingham Arts Academy in Alpena will be forced to close its doors after the school year ends. Efforts to find common ground on a fair rental rate, as well as find another location in Alpena failed, leaving closure as the only alternative.
Bingham Arts Academy was established as a charter school under Bay Mills Community College and managed under Mosaica Education. It was established in 2004 and has 120 students and 19 employees who handle the academics for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
Principal Christina Siwik said the school board did everything it could to try and reach a different outcome rather than close the school.
"The board worked really hard but the rent would have been just unaffordable and if we don't have a building we don't have a school," Siwik said. "If we can't remain on affordable terms we hurt the education of the students and they don't get as good of an educational experience."
Siwik said the school board and the staff have been working closely with Alpena Public Schools to help get a plan in place to educate parents and the children on where they will have class when the new school year begins. She said there will be a series of meeting to address concerns and answer questions. They take place Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m in the gym at the school.
The move means there will be a loss of employment for the teachers and other staff. Siwik said APS also is helping by exploring possible employment opportunities.
"They have been very helpful and supportive in helping us," Siwik said.
Letters were sent home Wednesday with the students to inform parents of the decision and most talked to their children about why the school will close and what is in store for them moving forward. Siwik said for the most part morale is high, but they are sharing there thoughts and memories about the time they spent at Bingham.
"I told them they will need to do well wherever they go and for them to remain upbeat. Just because the school is closing doesn't mean their education is ending," Siwik said. "We will be doing some special things to make some more happy and positive memories and we'll just make the best of it.
Anyone who has questions about the school closing or the transition can call Siwik at 358-2500.
Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review ... at www.thealpenanews.com.
ALPENA - After being unable to strike a reasonable deal with an out-of-state property owner, Bingham Arts Academy in Alpena will be forced to close its doors after the school year ends. Efforts to find common ground on a fair rental rate, as well as find another location in Alpena failed, leaving closure as the only alternative.
Bingham Arts Academy was established as a charter school under Bay Mills Community College and managed under Mosaica Education. It was established in 2004 and has 120 students and 19 employees who handle the academics for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
Principal Christina Siwik said the school board did everything it could to try and reach a different outcome rather than close the school.
"The board worked really hard but the rent would have been just unaffordable and if we don't have a building we don't have a school," Siwik said. "If we can't remain on affordable terms we hurt the education of the students and they don't get as good of an educational experience."
Siwik said the school board and the staff have been working closely with Alpena Public Schools to help get a plan in place to educate parents and the children on where they will have class when the new school year begins. She said there will be a series of meeting to address concerns and answer questions. They take place Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m in the gym at the school.
The move means there will be a loss of employment for the teachers and other staff. Siwik said APS also is helping by exploring possible employment opportunities.
"They have been very helpful and supportive in helping us," Siwik said.
Letters were sent home Wednesday with the students to inform parents of the decision and most talked to their children about why the school will close and what is in store for them moving forward. Siwik said for the most part morale is high, but they are sharing there thoughts and memories about the time they spent at Bingham.
"I told them they will need to do well wherever they go and for them to remain upbeat. Just because the school is closing doesn't mean their education is ending," Siwik said. "We will be doing some special things to make some more happy and positive memories and we'll just make the best of it.
Anyone who has questions about the school closing or the transition can call Siwik at 358-2500.
Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review ... at www.thealpenanews.com.