Appleton East High School exploring charter format

APPLETON - Appleton East High School principal Matthew Mineau says his school is a good one, but he says he would like the community's help to try to make it better.

“We've just had a constant conversation about this for the last couple years at East, just checking out what can we do,” said Mineau.

Those talks include the possibility of switching to a charter school. Such a move would allow the school to focus on specific areas and possibly serve as a testing ground for new ways of learning and teaching.

Mineau has organized a series of input sessions for parents and school staff to share suggestions and concerns.

“They are an important role for the support and the process of this to really figure out what do they think our students need,” said Mineau.

“For us, what's happening at the high school is important,” said Kori Mangold, a parent with three children in the Appleton School District.

Mangold was joined by parents from all six feeder elementary schools and the one middle school.

“I think it shows we really care what's happening in our community and in our school district,” said Beth Durie, a parent.

The session is one of four to discuss the school's options and what parents want to see for their kids. The aim is to also address concerns about the possible charter transition.

“I was a little concerned at first,” said Durie. “I wasn't sure what it meant to be a charter school as a high school.”

“It provides fear for people because it is uncertainty and some cases it means loss of something they had originally and so what we need to do is to bring all players to the table,” said Mineau.

Now Mineau hopes they can work together to find out which direction the school should head in the future.

Officials say they don't know yet what the focus will be if Appleton East becomes a charter school

The series of input sessions is a narrow invite list. The school will hold a public meeting in March.

• Click here to read a letter to parents from school officials