Seven Oaks Classical School officially kicks off its school year Tuesday. The new charter school in Monroe County was originally scheduled to open in mid-August. However, delayed construction altered the start date to after Labor Day.
Ashley Cherri is sending two of her five children to the new school. She says she believes the traditional approach the school says it will take will benefit her kids.
"Just for my children, you have to, I think, evaluate each child in a child-to-child basis," Cherri says.
She's especially drawn to the phonics-based reading program. However, the new school has been a topic of controversy in Monroe County ever since it began seeking an authorizor. It comes at a time when Jenny Robinson, a Monroe County Community School Corporation parent, says the education community should be rallying together.
"When you have a sudden development like a charter, and students and funding move away from from the public schools, then cuts have to be made," Robinson says.