The Delta County School Board has approved a Waldorf inspired education program in Paonia.
For the past three years, a group of parents and educators in the North Fork Valley have tried to open a Waldorf inspired charter school.
The school board and the state board of education denied their charter recognition.
However, the group worked with district officials and school administrators to come up with a compromise.
It would create a K-4 program inspired by the Waldorf model at Paonia Elementary School.
The school board approved the idea Thursday. Chelsea Bookout is with the group that lobbied for it.
"The program would be integrated into Paonia Elementary School and will just be part of what they offer at that school," Bookout says. "And, we will be staring with two classrooms [and] the enrollment numbers will sort of help inform how those classrooms get divided."
She says the program is contingent upon enrollment.
The district needs to see 30 kids sign up in order to hire two full-time teachers for it.
Bookout says interested parents need to complete an intent to enroll form by July 1 to meet that deadline.
There will also be an informational meeting about the program Monday, June 22 at 7 p.m. at the Paonia Library and Sunday, June 28 at 4:30 p.m. at Paonia Town Park.
