Math, science the focus at new Fond du Lac charter school

FOND DU LAC - STEM Academy in Fond du Lac is set to start its engines and hammer down on the throttle this fall.

Standing for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, the school is a partnership with Mercury Marine and the Fond du Lac School District.

"I think this is one of the grass roots efforts that will help improve our country as a whole," said Kevin Anderson.

Anderson knows a lot about boat engines. He's an engineer at Mercury Marine, the Fond du Lac based boat engine manufacturer and newest partner with the Fond du Lac School District. Anderson is hoping to pass some of his knowledge of science along to students.

"Let kids get experience and see things that they never have an opportunity to see in a normal school," said Anderson.

Anderson is on the governance board of the Fond du Lac School District's new STEM Academy, scheduled to open this fall.

Funded through federal grants and the Fond du Lac School District, the school will accept up to 100 students for its first year. The curriculum will focus on science, math and technology.

What is Mercury Marine's role? It is to help students apply what's learned in the classroom to the real-world.

"Coming over to Mercury, working with lab equipment, talking to real engineers and scientists in the fields that they're interested in, I think it brings a level of depth and enrichment and richness that you won't see in other classrooms,” said Anderson.

In just a couple of months, the old Franklin School off of Military Avenue in Fond du Lac will house the new STEM Academy for grades three through five. But even before a bell has rung, there are already plans to expand the fledgling program.

“One hundred students (enrolled) at outset this next fall,” said John Whitsett, curriculum coordinator for the Fond du Lac School District. “(Grades) six through eight will be another 100 students; at least that's our target for now."

Whitsett says he and Mercury Marine are already working on the paperwork to secure another $200,000 grant to expand the partnership to grades six through eight. As for third through fifth grades, around 20 students have applied to the school for the 2012-2013 school year.

"This is extremely important for our students,” said Whitsett. “It's going to provide them with some opportunities to do, really, some 21st century learning."

Mercury Marine says for now it is providing expertise to the school. The company says it may assist with funding in the future.

Whitsett says the district isn't just looking for students for the charter school. Three more teachers are needed.

He hopes to have the hiring complete by this summer.

Applications for students are due by April 30th, when Wisconsin open enrollment closes.