News
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
A3 6 Apr. 2017
Barney Charter Initiative to open new school in fall In brief: Without district and state administrators, charters keep decisions on instruction within their own leadership By | Lillian Quinones Collegian Reporter More than 350 students in kindergarten through eighth grade will begin classes at the newest classical charter school of Hillsdale College’s Barney Charter School Initiative opening in Fleming Island, Florida. St. Johns Classical Academy is the initiative’s 18th school, joining others across the country from Michigan to Texas. As Michelle Knapp, the principal of St. Johns, prepares for the fall, the tight budget of the school charter limits her ability to hire administrators like an assistant principal, academic dean, and test coordinator — but it helps to keep decisions on instruction local, charter school leaders said. “As the principal, I’m the instructional leader,” Knapp said. “I oversee and make sure teachers stay on track. Principals should be doing that in the traditional public school, but instead, that’s decided at the district level.” Although funded with taxpayer dollars, charter schools typically receive less money
than traditional public schools. This discrepancy can manifest in fewer administrators, as Knapp’s experience demonstrates. Yet the smaller number employed by charter schools points to a fundamental difference in structure: Traditional public schools employ people at the district and state level, and charter schools do not. “Charter schools are operating on maybe a 5-10 percent variance in the number of administrators employed at charter schools versus traditional public schools,” said Phillip Kilgore, director of the Barney Charter School Initiative. “This goes to show you that the glut is at the district and state-level for these administration-level positions.” Charter schools became popular in the late 1980s to provide free education and greater autonomy to local school administration than found at public schools. Instead of receiving curriculum and direct oversight from the state, schools enter into a charter created by a private group, most commonly parents with a shared vision for education.
If the school does not meet the standards described in its charter, the state can close it. Today, more than 6,000 charter schools operate in the U.S. with state funding through a pay-per-student basis. As the schools’ enrollment expands, the charter school’s budget increases, but unlike traditional public schools, the majority of charter schools must pay for their facilities. Kilgore said he believes the value of the administrator position in traditional public schools and charter schools reflects a difference in a philosophy of education. For example, physical education and the fine arts, “important parts of our program,” Kilgore said, are being cut in traditional public schools instead of the administrative positions such as the librarian, guidance counselor, and full-time food service. “These schools are not flushed with money,” Kilgore said. “Employing an assistant principal or teacher aids would be great — that would be a luxury.” The absence of bureaucracy above the principal is the hall-
mark of the charter school and enables students to receive a Hillsdale College-inspired education at no direct cost. Hillsdale College serves as a source of oversight for affiliate charter schools, providing advice on staffing, scheduling, school culture, uniforms, and policies and procedures. At Mason Classical Academy in Naples, Florida, Principal David Hull oversees 12 administrative personnel and 52 teachers for 750 students in kindergarten through 11th grade. In the upcoming school year, enrollment will reach 850, and there are more than 500 applicants on a waiting list, Hull said. When Mason opened in 2014, Hull waited until the next year to hire an assistant principal. “We definitely have a smaller administrative staff than traditional public schools, which requires us to work incredibly long hours and have to wear a lot of different hats,” Hull said. “But we love it because this mission to provide a quality education is so important. We spend our money frugally so that it can be spent on the stu-
dents.” Kelly Lichter is on the school board for the Collier County Public School District and the founder and president of Mason Classical Academy. “Each of the traditional public schools in Collier County have a large administrative staff that we don’t have at Mason,” Lichter said. She referenced the district office building for Collier County, calling it “five floors of bureaucracy,” as evidence of administrative glut. “Many traditional public schools are actually lacking administrators, because they are moved higher up to the district level,” Lichter said. “A lot of the time it’s a job promotion, for example, failing principals will get promoted to admin positions at the district office where different titles are made up.” From his experience advising new schools, Kilgore said he sees the number of administrators in traditional public schools as evidence that “charter schools are offering a better education on a tighter budget.”
Students’ use of Will Carleton loans down
100-year-old program offers quick cash to students
Freshmen Bree Porter and Sydney Anderson and sophomore Allie Dewire sell their “Cat in the Hat”-inspired cupcakes on Tuesday at Kappa Kappa Gamma’s fundraiser, which raised $320 to promote children’s literacy. Morgan Channels | Collegian
By | S.M. Chavey Features Editor In the 1980s and ’90s, Will Carleton loans were a regular part of conversation — like picking up a drop/add card or hearing the chimes of the clock tower. Now, though the business office still offers these loans, only about two or three students use them each month, because many students don’t know about them, student loan staff said. The Will Carleton loan serves as an emergency cash fund. Students bring their ID card down to the business office and sign a contract, and, for a $2 lender’s fee, they can have up to $50 for 30 days — no interest. Money returned after the 30 days adds a $5 late fee and a hold on the account until it is paid.
“If something comes up unexpectedly and [students] need money, that’s basically what it was set up for,” Senior Counselor and Student Loan Manager Jan Seegart said. “It’s there for the students, that’s why we have it.” The loan is popularly used to buy books, especially at the beginning of the semester before outside loans and scholarships have come in. In some infrequent and atypical cases, students may apply for a slightly larger loan, but they must state their reasons and the loan must be approved by Financial Aid Director and Student Records Richard Moeggenberg. Established almost 100 years ago in 1923 by the Will Carleton Memorial Association, the fund originally contained about $3,500. According to a 1997 Collegian article,
Carleton, an 1896 graduate and famous poet, initiated the fund and “was one of his special interests until he died” because “he knew from personal experience how difficult it was to get an education when funds were scarce.” Now, it is used primarily for other emergencies rather than education. Senior Frank Bruno said he used the loan once while waiting for a reimbursement for a club. “I was in a pinch. Last year, I was the president of Young Americans for Freedom and one week I had to pay for a whole bunch of supplies all out of pocket. I was really low on funds, and this got me through the period until reimbursement,” Bruno said. “I would use it again, I definitely think this is an asset that should be used.”
single war — and all of that is nothing compared to these things.” The Historical Geology class, led by Professor of Biology Tony Swinehart, has hunted fossils for 17 years. In the past, the class took field trips to examine rubbish heaps from a quarry. More recently, however, the class drives down to Indiana to search for fossils on Stone Hill. “It’s a great capstone experience for my class,” Swinehart said. “I want them to get an appreciation for the natural history of our region and to be
to help reconstruct past environments and interpret environments today.” Swinehart said he hoped that the field trip would change the way his students look at the world and its natural history, and according to Scanlan, his excitement was infectious. “If I’m on a long drive, I will definitely notice if there are those kinds of formations,” Scanlan said. “I guess I will probably wonder what’s under there.”
Students search for sea-creature fossils off roadcut in Indiana sitting on top of everything,” that you wouldn’t expect from events and the entirety of every able to utilize the fossil record By | Julie Havlak Collegian Reporter Almost all students who visit Stone Hill end up flat on their stomach, peering at the ground. They don’t have much of a choice: They’re hunting for fossils, and there isn’t an easier way to see them. Historical Geology class students put their classroom work to use on last week’s field trip, when they visited Stone Hill in Brookville, Indiana, to search for Ordovician fossils. “I thought you would have to search through the mud to find the fossils, but they are
senior Christine Scanlan said. “There are thousands and thousands of them. It’s really crazy how prolific they are.” Stone Hill looks like just another Indiana roadcut, but its rocks are filled with the remains of sea creatures more than 450 million years old. “It’s basically a treasure hunt,” junior James Young said. “It’s just the side of the road. If you drive past it, you would not be tell it from anything else. But if you get out onto the rocks, basically the whole thing is covered with sea shells and corals and all sorts of things
a countryside in Indiana.” Indiana was once under a tropical sea. As the tectonic plates shifted, its waters dried, and sediments buried its sea creatures under many layers. They remained hidden until the continental plates buckled, erosion exposed the ancient remains, and Hillsdale students picked them up. “There is a really distinct thrill in finding something so old,” Young said. “The fossil has been sitting there, waiting for you to pick it up for 450 million years. It’s seen the world go through three major extinction
By | Jessie Fox Sports Editor After three years working at Hillsdale College, Renee Surprenant is leaving to continue to teach, design, and work in professional theater on the East Coast. Surprenant, the visiting assistant professor of design and technical director in theater arts, has designed and created the sets for 12 shows during her time at Hillsdale. She credits her time at the college for learning how to teach others in the art she loves. “I’m always leading these students in how to help me create my art, and it takes a lot of letting go sometimes, and when you do let go, it can be a great experience,” Surprenant said. “I’ve learned how to be a leader and also a collaborator with my students, so it’s a fine line, but my time at Hillsdale has been very good for my development that way.” Each set on which she worked brought new challenges, Surprenant said. “I love that I get to do so many projects that I’m passionate about,” Surprenant
said. “For me as a theater artist, it’s not so much that there’s one show I’d love to design… It’s always more about working with a director to come up with a unique production with a unique design. Then within that, I get to do these art and creativity projects. I get to paint backdrops, which is one of my favorite things, and work those into designs. I get to do all sorts of building, set creating, and techniques. I get to play with those, which has been a great exploration for me as an artist.” After completing her graduate degree at Michigan State University, Surprenant came to Hillsdale to replace Dave Griffith, the former designer and director who had worked at Hillsdale for about 40 years. Professor of Theater James Brandon said Surprenant was a refreshing addition to the department. “It’s good to have your artistic family change a little bit every so often, so bringing Renee in was useful in that regard,” Brandon said. “We’re going to miss her. It’s always tough to make transitions. I understand why she’s leaving and certainly
want the best for her.” Michael Beyer, production manager and lighting director, said he’s enjoyed Surprenant’s youthful energy and has appreciated her talents. “As a designer, she is a very, very talented painter and very, very talented designer — she has brilliant ideas,” Beyer said. Brandon said he admires her technical skills but also the way Surprenant doesn’t allow limited time and resources to cripple her creativity. “You’re working with limited time, limited budget, and limited student workers, where what can you achieve in a fiveto-seven-week rehearsal period is limited,” Brandon said. “The fact that you don’t let your creativity be stifled by that reality is really important, and it’s something that will serve her well moving forward.” Surprenant said she is able to pick something special of which she is proud from each of her dozen shows, but it’s impossible to pick a favorite. From working with a senior designer to create an expressionist design for “Woyzeck” in spring 2014 to painting “The Taming
Surprenant leaving to continue theater on East Coast
5
things to know from this week
-Compiled by Jordyn Pair
Illegal immigration down under President Trump The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a decrease in illegal immigration across the southwest border in President Donald Trump’s first month in office. In January, 31,575 illegal immigrants were taken into custody, compared to more than 45,000 for each of the previous three months.
of the Shrew” backdrop for “Kiss Me Kate” this semester, Surprenant said she’s been able to explore her artistic abilities. “I take a lot of pleasure in the small things that make up a set,” Surprenant said. “Other set designers might design the whole set, but they don’t necessarily build or paint it. I like that side so much, as well, so being able to do both of Renee Surprenant, visiting assistant professor of them has been design and technical director in theater arts, is a lot of work at leaving Hillsdale College to continue her work times. It’s been on the East Coast. Hannah Kwapisz | Collegian exhausting, ties in the faculty and students,” but I enjoy it, too.” Surprenant said the Hills- Surprenant said. “I think we dale theater department was meshed really well together, a great fit for her for the past and I felt like the work I did was appreciated, and I was able three years. “I love the creative work I do to bring people along with me and the department personali- as I did it, and I really enjoyed that.” “1984” movie used to Krispy Kreme mother Former NSA adviser under protest Trump company buying Panera scrutiny over allegations Soups, sandwiches, and Around 200 theaters Former National Security donuts, oh my. JAB, the parent screened the 1980 movie Adviser Susan Rice is under company of Krispy Kreme, version of “1984” to protest scrutiny, after allegations and Panera announced an President Donald Trump. The she sought to use secret upcoming merger, with the protest took place on Tuesday, intelligence reports to spy on deal closing in the third quar- April 4, the date the main Donald Trump and his associter of this year. JAB partner character began writing in his ates. Rice has denied that she and CEO Olivier Goudet forbidden diary. The protest requested the information. announced he is a strong sup- took place internationally, porter of the Panera vision. spreading throughout Europe.
Students to compete in management competition
By | Nathanael Meadowcroft Senior Writer
Nine Hillsdale College students will present on Monday their solutions to malnutrition in poorer areas of Michigan through community farming. Two teams of four and five students will represent Hillsdale in THEProject, a collegiate project-management competition sponsored by the Western Michigan Project Management Institute. Judges will score teams from seven Michigan universities on the quality of their presentation and solutions as well as their use of proper project-management techniques. The top three teams earn cash prizes and teams can also win various other awards, including best presentation and most improved project. Last year, a Hillsdale team placed first and won $5,000 — $1,000 for each team member — and $5,000 for Hillsdale College. This is the fourth year Hillsdale has competed. “Our teams have brought something home every year so far,” Assistant Professor of Management Douglas Johnson said. “I don’t know if that will remain true this year or not.” With the $5,000 that Hillsdale won at last year’s competition, Johnson is trying to form a program that would allow students to complete internships in project management over the summer months. “Students could get their certification in project management as a part of that course,” Johnson said. “And that’s always an option for anybody that actually participates in the normal project competition, too.” Two years ago, one Hillsdale team won an award for the quality of its presentation and the other team won an award for improvement over the course of the project. Each student came home with $100. Participating students have enrolled in a class with Johnson this semester and arrived to campus a week before the semester started to begin work. “We bring people back for a boot camp, and they begin work on the project,” Johnson said. “Then they have a series of milestones leading up to the actual presentation.” The class is a three-credit 400-level class. “It takes a lot of work,” Johnson said. “They end up probably working harder than normal for a three-credit class.” The entire process gives students invaluable experience in management, he said. “It’s an excellent way of learning what it’s like to actually work on a project,” Johnson said. “They learn about the formal methods of project management.” The competition will take place at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville near Grand Rapids.
Chapel from A1
take care of any problems.” Péwé said the chapel will be a representation of the college’s nonsectarian Christian mission. “I get excited about every project,” he said. “Every time, it’s like it was meant to be a part of the campus. We always tried to make sure architecturally they represent something that points up. This is the next development in that regard.” The chapel will serve more than just a sanctuary, providing space for large campus lectures and music performances. “I can’t wait to walk across the Quad at noon and pray or listen to sacred music in the evening,” he said.
Detroit holds Bacon Bash event Saturday Three dozen Detroit restaurants will compete on Saturday as part of this year’s Bacon Bash. Guests will get to sample and even vote on a variety of bacon-wrapped foods. Winners qualify to compete in World Food Championships in Alabama. Only VIP tickets are available, priced at $70.