STRIDE Academy Hopeful New Authorizer Can Keep School Open

ST. CLOUD - Leaders of STRIDE Academy in St. Cloud are fighting to keep the charter school open. Two weeks ago the school board announced they would have to close at the end of this school year.

School Board Chair Sara Fromm says right now they're on a dual approach. She says they're legally mandated to begin closure proceedings, while at the same time looking for opportunities to stay open.

We were reached out to by another authorizer who has a reputation of collaborating with their schools, and in particular they work in urban settings and with schools that have populations that mirror ours.

However, Fromm says transferring to the new authorizer - Pillsbury United Communities - isn't easy. STRIDE's contract with current authorizer - Friends of Education - doesn't allow them to transfer if they're in a corrective contract. Fromm says they've reached out to the Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner for help with the transfer.

Fromm says closing STRIDE Academy and opening under a new name isn't a great option either. She says the process of opening a new charter school takes well over a year to complete.

STRIDE Academy has about 680 students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade, and they have about 114 employees.

STRIDE opened in 2005.