1916 - Rob Wilkening stands next to a block from the original Waldorf school building from 1916. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
In a day in which charter schools seem to open and close nearly every year, you have to wonder about the future for some of them.
There are no such thoughts after visiting East-West International Education Academy in Waldorf. The area’s newest K-12 school appears to be a cut above, and the future looks bright.
Executive Director Rob Wilkening — who was elected Mayor of Waldorf back in November and is a former teacher — has been extremely busy these days, preparing for an Aug. 28 open house and a Sept. 3 opening. The deadline for enrolling in the school is Aug. 23.
“We hope to have 100 students here (this year),” said Wilkening as workmen scurried to put the finishing touches on the building, which formerly housed Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elementary and, before that, Waldorf-Pemberton High School.
Eight teachers have been hired, ranging in age from 24 to 40, though more will be added as enrollment increases. Wilkening, 56, will teach business, science and music.
The school is the result of a demographic study done by East-West Foundation, of which Wilkening is a co-founder. The foundation partners with Peking University and has more than 300 schools in the U.S., with one or two Chinese students attending each school. No international students are enrolled in Waldorf, though Wilkening said the school offers opportunities for its students to study overseas.
Students enrolled hail from Mankato, Janesville, Waseca, New Richland, Wells, Minnesota Lake, Ellendale, Hartland, Geneva and other communities.
According to its Web site, www.eweea.us, the East-West International Education Academy (EWEA) will operate a K-12 Public Charter School segmented into the following areas: A K-4 Elementary School Core Curriculum Program, a 5-8 Middle School Group-Project Based Program and a 9-12 High School Individual Project-Based Program that will mentor career development for students.
The school will be a part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School Program, the first of its kind in Southern Minnesota. It will offer English Immersion with a S.T.E.M Program focused not just in Robotics, but also in Drone Technology. The entire program will be designed around Science, especially as it relates to Agriculture and the community. Students will be challenged to think on how to solve problems not just from within the community, but in the world.
The mission: provide a globally infused education to promote learning and equip students to be innovative thinkers in a changing world.
As for athletics, the school is yet to get them established, though Wilkening said rules allow students to compete with neighboring schools. He’s waiting for the green light from NRHEG Superintendent Dale Carlson after being turned down by JWP.
“New Richland and Waldorf seem to get along real well,” said Wilkening. “They always support each other. I’m real happy how friendly New Richland is.”
Wilkening said some animosity exists between Janesville, Waldorf and Pemberton after the school district decided to close the Waldorf school several years ago.
“We lost a lot of businesses after the school closed,” said Wilkening.
The new school rekindles the memory of Waldorf-Pemberton, and the building includes some brickwork from the original 1916 school building.
The school is Wilkening’s first venture with a charter school, and he only half jokingly says he’d never do it again. But he feels good about the school filling a need in the area.
“Agriculture is important,” he said. “I think we have a real good relationship with UM-Waseca and Minnesota State-Mankato. I know Waseca’s excited for this school. Agriculture, financially, is making a comeback.”
School hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the final hour reserved to check on homework progress and provide help in needed areas. The goal is never to have homework. Everything should be done in school. A two-week Christmas break is scheduled, with no spring break, and the school year is set to end the final day in May.
The school will offer preschool and day care starting next spring.
Wilkening urges anyone interested in enrolling to contact the school.