By Arlo Taylor
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Local families have a new educational option with the recent approval of a charter school located on Little Rock Air Force Base.
The Arkansas Board of Education in a 7-0 vote Jan. 14 cleared the way for Lighthouse Academies to open a new middle school on the base and to expand its existing Jacksonville campus. The new middle school will house approximately 175 students in the fifth to eighth grades.
“It’s so wonderful that base families have another educational option for their children,” said Terry Shaw, 19th Force Support Squadron school liaison officer. “It’s been about a two year process, but the local community and base leadership have persevered to make this school a reality for families in our community.”
The Air Force is preparing to turn over the former Conference Center building to Lighthouse Academies for renovations. Construction will cost nearly $1 million and was made possible by a $600,000 pledge from the Hunt-Pinnacle Group which is responsible for 1,000 homes on the base. The Wilson family, long-time supporters of Little Rock AFB, pledged another $200,000 for the renovation. Base officials expect construction to begin in late spring and be completed in time for the 2011-2012 school year.
“This is a great opportunity for families with middle school students in the Jacksonville and Little Rock Air Force Base area,” said Col. Andy Coggins, 19th Mission Support Group commander. “We’re excited for our children and what this new school means to our base and local community. It’s another great example of the unmatched community support we receive and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who helped pave the way for the new school.”
Applications are now being accepted for the 2011-2012 academic school year. By law, all Arkansas charter schools are open to all eligible students, both military and non-military students. As a result, base children are not automatically guaranteed enrollment at the new school. Interested parents can submit on-line applications for their students at www.lighthouse-academies.org/JLCS.htm or can pick up paper applications at the Lighthouse Academies office at 251 North First Street in Jacksonville. The lottery drawing is slated for April 1.
Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate outside of the control of a local school district but are still held to the state’s academic standards by the state’s board of education.
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