Partnership for Arkose Ridge Leadership Academy

10/27/2021

Greetings to all supporters of public education options which focus on renewable energy, food security, LEED construction design, efficient transportation, and more in a projects-based, experiential learning environment.

09/09/2020

It's always heartening to see new likes on ARLA despite all the time that's passed since we chose to shelve the project over two years ago. At that time we had district support, but could not quite garner the 30 committed families the district was requiring to start (we got 24).

Some good ideas just need the right time, the right convergence of motivated, inspired individuals, and community leaders who recognize the need for a new kind of high school. The need for outdoor focussed, interdisciplinary, community connected education is only greater in these times.

Ideas, comments, and questions are welcome at [email protected]

02/12/2019

"Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes." - Buddha

01/18/2018

Happy New Year from Team Arla!

01/18/2018

Happy New Year from Team ARLA. To the many who have supported our vision of a new kind of school, thank you! The dream persists for opening a small, local high school dedicated to projects-based learning, sustainability, and community connections. Last spring, we came close, but fell short of the district’s minimum enrollment of 30 freshmen and sophomores for launching Arkose Ridge Leadership Academy as a school-within-a-school at Palmer High. If you feel the school district should prioritize a school like this, we encourage you to call, write, email (or all of the above) Superintendent Monica Goyette and school board members (contact info listed below). Let them know you still support ARLA’s progressive vision, innovative school-year structure, and career concentration areas focused on local food, sustainable energy, boreal ecology, and community planning. More information is posted at http://www.anewkindofschool.org.
Fortune Magazine recently reported that “solar and wind industries are creating jobs at a rate 12 times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy.” According to the Department of Energy, there are five times more jobs in clean energy than in the coal, gas, and oil industries combined. Yet there are currently no programs dedicated to renewable energy in our district. ARLA has already established relationships with UAF, APU, and UAA for developing curricula in these sectors. Additionally, the need for local food production and food security makes undeniable economic sense, as do high-efficiency building design and low-carbon heating technologies. The Alaska Renewable Energy Project (REAP), the Cold Climate Housing Research Center and others are ready to partner with us toward development of curricula and certification programs in these areas.
It will take the collective voices of parents, community members, and professional partners to inspire a fresh look at the ARLA model by the school district. Please share this posting with anyone you think may be interested, and add comments here to reopen the conversation.

Thank you!

Rene Dervaes
Lead Parent Advocate

Contacts:

Dr. Monica Goyette
Superintendent�MSBSD Admin. Building
501 N. Gulkana Street�Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: 907.746.9255
[email protected]

School Board and Superintendent contacts:
Dr. Donna Dearman, President
P.O. Box 894
Talkeetna, AK 99676
(907) 841-9881
[email protected]

Kelsey Trimmer,Vice-President
P.O. Box 1394
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 841-8632
[email protected]

Deborah Retherford, Clerk
4525 S. McKechnie Lp
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 354-4961
[email protected]

Ole Larson, Member
MSBSD Admin. Building
501 N. Gulkana Street�Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 376-3658
[email protected]

Ray Michaelson, Member
P.O. Box 331
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 354-3830
[email protected]

Yvonne Ruth, Member
P.O. Box 520714
Big Lake, AK 99652
(907) 360-8524
[email protected]

Dr. Sarah Welton, Member
P.O. Box 870725
Wasilla, AK 99687
(907) 373-5595
[email protected]

05/05/2017

Paul received word on Thursday that due to staffing/budgetary constraints he will not be piloting any ARLA themed courses at Palmer High School this fall. However, with student enrollments increasing at Career and Technical High School, he will be transferred to this school, Many wrinkles need to be ironed out regarding how his position will take shape, but the intention is for him to introduce energy literacy and sustainability courses alongside teaching other core classes. Again, the idea needs much refinement, but the goal is to generate student and community interest in renewable energy and sustainable food production careers within the sphere of the district's Career and Technical Education programs. ARLA could then develop over time from this seed crystal. Updates will follow.

05/01/2017

Paul received a note from the school district on Friday indicating that a decision about ARLA courses on the PHS main campus this fall will be made by this Tuesday, May 2. We've presented this idea as a cheaper way of introducing some ARLA content and methods, while helping meet the needs of Palmer High.

04/25/2017

Barbara Johnson and Paul Morley met with MSBSD administration this afternoon and presented some ideas for initiating components of ARLA at Palmer High School this fall. We recently fell short of the threshold of 30 to open a school-within-a-school, but are now seeking to introduce energy literacy, wilderness studies, and Northern agriculture focused courses on and off the main campus. This would be an opportunity to build relationships among students, staff, and community experts, starting small and nurturing sustainable growth for ARLA. We should know more by the end of the week. Please stay tuned.

04/21/2017

I'm sure many of you are eager to hear about the results of the extended registration period and this past Wednesday's deadline. The level of support and encouragement has been substantial. Even so, while we got 21 enrollments we remain shy of the threshold minimum of 30 students. Therefore, as stated in an email this morning, "the district is not going to be able to move forward with ARLA for the 2017-2018 school year." Paul Morley will be meeting with district administration on Monday to consider next steps. We will keep you posted.

https://www.facebook.com/neildegrassetyson/videos/10155195888806613/

04/19/2017

04/19/2017

ARLA is 2/3 of the way to the needed 30 enrollments by today's deadline. So many people have demonstrated confidence in this mission by donating energy, time, and enthusiasm. We're so close.

04/12/2017

A parent/student presentation about ARLA will take place tomorrow night, Thursday, April 13, from 6 - 7 PM in the Palmer High School library. The enrollment window is open through next Wednesday, April 19 for students who will be in grades nine and ten this August.We are still shy of the 30 enrollments needed for school planning to move forward, but we remain hopeful. Any efforts you can make to help communicate news of this exciting opportunity will be greatly appreciated.