Fleeger Pleads Case for School Choice Option for Lenape Hybrid Program
Hailey Fleeger is a teen with a dream that doesn't include going back to Kittanning High School for her academics!
by David Croyle
Fleeger, the daughter of Anna and Jerry Fleeger of Worthington, attended Evangel Heights Christian School in Sarver. However, to enroll as a junior this year at Lenape Tech, she had to first be placed on the rolls at Kittanning High School in order to qualify. Even so, she does not consider herself to be a student from Kittanning and still feels a bond with her former school.
“If you vote to take away Lenape aca-demics, what happens to me?” she said, questioning the Armstrong School Board at their monthly meeting held last night in the Elderton Junior-Senior High School gymnasium. She included examples of students now at Lenape that were formerly cyber-schooled, home schooled, and private-schooled. “There is a clear reason we did not want to go to your sending school in the first place, so why would we go now? Will you give us a choice of where we [are able to take our academics]?”
Fleeger’s appeal was different. Although registered as a Kittanning High School student, she had spent no educational time there. She, and others like her, would be forced to attend academic classes in an environment they opted out of during their prior scholastic years. It set up the premise for the first real debate on school choice.
“Even at private school, it was not what I was looking for. It was all very generalized. They only taught you what you needed to know to pass the test – not how to apply it to real world.”
She applauded Lenape and wore the K.O.L.A. tee-shirt – “Keep Our Lenape Academics” designed and sold by Lenape students. “They taught me public speaking, which prepared me to speak to you tonight. The standardized testing scores at Evangel Heights beat the scores from your sending schools. I have to work for my grades at Lenape because it is difficult.”
The sixteen-year-old is taking Bio-Med at Lenape and is planning her future. She hopes to become a nurse anesthetist. “I am planning on going to school in Pittsburgh [for college] but I am not sure where I want to live yet.” One thing is sure… a daily trip to Kittanning High School for her academics is not on her radar screen.
Armstrong School District, Lenape Tech | David Croyle March 2, 2010
By scott_starr, March 2, 2010 @ 9:50 AM
Ms. Fleeger did an excellent job! keep coming out Lenape kids.
MR. Croyle,I’m not sure I agree with your conclusion.
At the meeting and listening to Ms. Fleeger, I udnerstood that she does NOT want a half day program and her concern was if there is a half day program would she have to go to Kttg, or other “sending school”.
I believe your headling to be misleading, if my understanding is correct. If there is a hybrid program, the point is moot, because she can stay at Lenape for academics, if it is half-day, she is asking her options.
By Jen16226, March 2, 2010 @ 1:35 PM
I thought this did show another side that people were not thinking about. I never thought about the fact that homeschooled or private school kids transferred back into the district in order to attend Lenape!
Thank you for giving us all a another angle to look at this from Hailey!!!!
By rfullerton, March 2, 2010 @ 9:31 PM
Scott, I believe you are correct. Hailey does not want a hybrid/1/2time program. She was definitely in favor of the full day program and had some valid points. I think this article was misleading as was the one where Ms.Zboran was quoted as saying our district is top heavy in administation….that was not what she said either. These are just two excellent examples of why interested parties should follow the meeting on youtube….people cannot be misquoted there. http://www.youtube.com/hercasd Nice job Hailey!
By David Croyle, March 2, 2010 @ 10:44 PM
The headline, while not intended to be misleading, could have been stated differently, but Ms. Fleeger’s interview with me tonight on “Talk of the Town” was ***very*** specific. Feel free to view it at: http://www.familylifetv.com
By rfullerton, March 2, 2010 @ 11:43 PM
Thanks Mr. Croyle but I can never seem to get the video to work on that site on my computer. I have no clue what the problem is.