Franklin School of Innovation announces Enka location

Here’s the press release from the Franklin School of Innovation:

Buncombe county’s new charter middle and high school will open its doors this fall just down the street from AB Tech’s Enka campus. The location, at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Lake Drive, was chosen for its accessibility from many parts of the County and the diversity of the student population in the area.

“The announcement of our facility location is obviously a big step, and a challenge we’ve worked hard to overcome, ” said board chair Michelle Vruwink. “North Carolina charter schools don’t receive start-up funds, or other money for capital expenses like buildings and buses.”

Vruwink notes that securing a location is just one of many projects underway at the Franklin School of Innovation. “We’re hosting public information sessions, conducting a national leadership search, and recruiting our teaching faculty,” says Vruwink. “All this wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of the many in the community who have supported us over the past 18 months.”

The Franklin School of Innovation will follow the Expeditionary Learning model developed by Outward Bound and the Harvard School of Education, which emphasizes hands-on project-based learning, a spirit of inquiry and critical thinking, and strong character development.

“I am thrilled that Asheville families will finally have a charter school option for their high school students, ” says prospective parent, Linnae Harris, “My two middle school children have thrived at an Expeditionary Learning based school. I’m pleased that they will be able to continue their their higher education in a hands-on, collaborative classroom.”

The school will start in multi-classroom modular buildings, with construction slated to begin in May. Applications are now being accepted for grades six through nine for the 2014-15 school year with plans to add a grade each year through 2018-19 when the school will serve sixth through twelfth grades.