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  • Our district now has three high school options for grades 8-12 for the upcoming school year. Several months ago, the Board of Education and Superintendent Vadim committed current and future sinking fund dollars to the Phase I development of New Tech in a re-opened and renovated Walden School. New Tech will start this fall with approximately 200 students, split evenly between 8th and 9th graders.

    "This step gives us a small insertion point for 21st Century learning in our district," said Superintendent Vadim. "This gives us a new delivery model as well as another option for students and parents. We'll grow this program slowly and evaluate what New Tech practices may be good to bring into our other schools."

  • Walden High School will continue to offer traditional, honors, and AP programs on campus along with a host of extracurricular activities and athletics. Walden High will serve about 850-1000 students, grades 8-12.

  • Students enrolled at New Tech at Walden will take part in core curriculum technology-driven, project-based learning on location, but take electives and participate in extra-curriculars at Walden High. New Tech will offer a proven educational model in conjunction with the National New Tech Network. Walden High will serve as the hub.

  • JC Tech at the former Jeanne Cochrane Elementary is in its first year and has seen consistent student growth (achievement and numbers!) by offering credit recovery and GED prep classes through a computer-based learning lab platform.

  • Vadim stressed that the investment at Walden for the New Tech program does not take away the need for the upcoming building bond proposals. He gives this example, "Imagine our entire district as one huge 50-year-old house. We have two floors with many rooms, a basement, and a garage. Every place you look, there are items requiring immediate updates and repairs. But our facility budget only allows us to properly remodel one of the bedrooms. This is exactly what we are doing. We're choosing to invest in the Phase I renovation of Holland New Tech even though we know we won't be able to update our other schools unless we have our bond requests approved."

    "I believe our community can be proud of this secondary school line-up," said Vadim. "We're positioned to be more efficient and effective. Our bond proposals, if approved, will allow us to keep moving forward."