Appalachian State University has agreed to pay Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools $426,840 annually to rent Middle Fork Elementary School for a planned laboratory school that is part of a turnaround effort.
The Board of Education approved an agreement between the district and Appalachian on Tuesday regarding responsibilities for Middle Fork Elementary once it goes under ASU’s control, and which functions the district will continue to carry out.
Middle Fork will be one of nine laboratory schools across the state, each of which will be run by an education college in the UNC system. The colleges will control the curriculum and management of the schools, all of which were selected for the program because of low performance in recent years.
Appalachian’s lab school will be known as the Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork, or the Academy for short.
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The board’s vote on Tuesday was for approval of a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between the university and district that outlines what expenses the university is responsible for — such as rent — and what operations the school district will continue providing.
The agreement is good from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2023, consistent with the five-year duration of the lab school. The agreement contains a section on early termination, should either or both parties choose to do so.
Appalachian agrees to pay the district $426,840 annually in rent, with monthly installments of $35,570, which includes utilities and $30,000 in general indoor and outdoor maintenance.
Any additional maintenance work would go to the university at a portion of the cost, since the district will still be operating a small portion of the building for pre-K. Appalachian’s portion is calculated to 83 percent, since the Academy will take up that much of the building.
Appalachian will also pay $14,000 a year for tech support, as well as an investment of $449,000 in instructional supplies and technology resources, which will stay at the school after Appalachian leaves.
WS/FCS will still be responsible for services such as pre-K and child nutrition. The district will work with the Academy for transportation of students who currently live along the bus routes for the school.
The Academy will have access to the district’s substitute teachers’ list. WS/FCS will invoice Appalachian for any substitute teacher costs.
Tasha Hall-Powell, principal of Middle Fork and who will serve as principal at the Academy, said they have had 339 students enroll so far. They are still accepting applications, and will go on a waiting list once they hit 360.
She added that all teaching positions are fully staffed for the new school year.
“I’m excited. I’m ready to get started,” she said. “It’s been a long journey, but it’s been a very worthwhile one at the same time. We’re just looking forward to opening the school year.”
During the Friday Board of Trustees meeting at Appalachian, Chancellor Sheri Everts commented on the Academy.
“In her State of the University remarks in Asheville this spring, (UNC system) President (Margaret) Spellings called attention to our work at the Academy as helping to fulfill the Legislature’s vision for centers of innovation, research and teaching excellence,” she said. “We are making excellent headway with the Academy’s staffing and curriculum design, and while we are enmeshed in the many, many details and flurry of opening the school in August, we are excited to begin this new step in teaching and learning together.”