Details of the partnership between the public school system and a proposed private performing arts high school remain to be settled. But trustees on the MCPS Personnel, Negotiations and Policy Committee gave the general idea their enthusiastic support on Wednesday.
“Our goal is to create a partnership, not a competitive field, with those programs already in existence,” said Missoula Children's Theatre executive assistant Libby Schneider. “It's exciting to see our partner is also wanting to move forward. It puts us right on pace.”
But it would also link with Missoula County Public Schools for core academic subjects such as English, math and science. In return, MCPS would get to count MCT students toward its enrollment total, which determines the amount of state funding the district receives.
“Our students would still have to have all the arts and music classes we already have,” Trustee Jim Sadler told the committee. “We'd just increase the pie for the number of students coming into our schools.”
MCT founder Jim Caron said previously he hoped to start the program in fall 2009 with around 50 students. But he anticipated high demand for the program, and told trustees it could conceivably grow to 400 or 500 students in a few more years.
The students would study music, drama and dance at MCT's building on East Broadway (a former Missoula elementary school) and live in a dorm. Tuition would be upward of $20,000 a year, Caron said.
Missoula Education Association President Jack Sturgis said while some local teachers might help with classes at MCT, there would be no harm to existing Missoula classrooms.
“There would be no pulling our students out of our program into MCT unless they're willing to pay the tuition,” Sturgis said. “It doesn't threaten any of our arts curriculum at the moment. And I see huge benefit to our district in terms of filling seats.”
MCPS Superintendent Jim Clark said the partnership could help the city's high school district, which has been losing enrollment for more than a decade. Because the state funds schools on a per-student basis, having a new influx of young people in the community could help reverse that population trend.
The full MCPS Board of Trustees will consider a formal letter of support for the partnership at its July 8 meeting. Text of the letter can be found on the school district's Web site, www.mcps.k12.mt.us.
Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at rchaney@missoulian.com.
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