Written By: Al Edenloff of the Echo Press | Jan 25th 2021
A new charter school will be opening in Alexandria this fall.
Kalon Prep Academy, a tuition-free choice for students in ninth through 12th grade, received a conditional use permit from the Alexandria City Council on Monday, Jan. 25, to use part of the old Kmart building on Highway 29 South.
The location, however, hasn’t been finalized. The Minnesota Department of Education has to approve it and it’s backlogged 90 days, so the leaders of the new school say they may need to consider a location that doesn’t require renovation.
The permit, unanimously approved, allows a 22,000 square-foot school with classrooms, administrative offices, gym and supportive spaces and facilities. There are also plans to include a wellness center on campus.
Brent Smith with Enterprise-KM, the limited liability company that applied for the permit, told the planning commission that the school plans to have 60 students the first year and increase to 200 students by the fourth year. It expects to have up to 16 employees.
Smith said the school will work with students who are struggling academically.
Initially, the school hopes to draw students from the Alexandria area and surrounding communities – Glenwood, Osakis, Brandon, Evansville and Sauk Centre, according to Chris Kragenbring, director.
Kragenbring, who has worked for the Alexandria School District for 30 years, will be resigning at the end of the school year to take the position at Kalon. She said Kalon is working with the district to see if it can serve as a bridge to the new school. If the district finds it can’t service a student, it could recommend they come to Kalon, she told the planning commission.
Kalon is also working with District 206 about transportation and meals, Smith said.
Charter schools are funded through the state on a per-pupil basis.
The application process with the Minnesota Department of Education started in October 2019 and was approved last August, according to Kragenbring.
“There is a team of people working on all aspects – curriculum, transportation, food services, location, enrollment – so we can open for the 2021-22 school year,” Kragenbring noted in marketing materials she provided about the school.
Kragenbring described the school as a strengths based, whole student, college and career focused school. It’s mission statement is, “to provide an exceptional campus culture that will foster strong academic achievement integrated with caring adults, relevant experiences and a healthy dose of fun.”
Kalon is different from other alternative schools, such as the Runestone Regional Learning Center, because students will have to follow a rigid schedule, Kragenbring said. Students wouldn’t be allowed to come and go as they please.
The school will use a 15:1 student/instructional coach ratio designed to personalize each student’s educational journey, Kragenbring said.
Kalon, Kragenbring said, will offer:
- Required core subjects – math, science, social studies and English.
- Electives – driver’s training, service learning, strengths for students, career navigation, life skills and more.
The school, she added, also plans to offer field trips that connect to the curriculum, college visits and team building adventures.
“Students will discover how they are uniquely wired and will use those strengths to transform their great potential into great performance,” Kragenbring said.
Kalon Academy is the only Minnesota school partnering with College For Every Student, CFES, Brilliant Pathways, a nationally known nonprofit organization that raises the academic aspirations and performance of low-income youth so that they can prepare and succeed in college.
Kragenbring has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and was named North Dakota and Minnesota Teacher of the Year. She was selected twice as a U.S. Department of Education “Teach To Lead” participant and received a grant through CFES.
The council approved the conditional use permit with three conditions recommended by the planning commission – a building permit is required; one off-street parking stall per eight students must be provided, along with one off-street stall for each faculty member; and any exterior lighting must be directed away from public streets.
For more information about Kalon, email kalonprep@gmail.com or go to www.kalonprep.org. A full website is expected to be completed in mid-February.