Innovation is name of game for schools here

At the same time the Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) is preparing to undergo a dramatic shift in its curriculum, a local elementary school district is looking at an equally innovative approach to education.

The Crane Elementary School District officials were pleased with the results of a recent survey that showed strong support for a new charter school in the district that would be part of the Gowan Achievement Project (GAP). The charter school would focus on math and science training to better prepare students for the future.

Similarly, the YUHSD Ready Now Yuma program would prepare students for a more competitive future that will require post-secondary education and new thinking skills to ensure success.

Both programs are attempting to bring innovative approaches to education and both are funded by private efforts.

The YUHSD program is the result of a Helios Foundation grant of $3.9 million. Helios is a philanthropic organization. Its efforts in the high school district are slated to begin this fall.

The Crane charter school effort is not yet finalized, but it would be opened in partnership with the local Gowan Company and possibly other donors. The Gowan Company has already been funding a GAP program on a smaller scale in the district.

The Crane school board has yet to take action on the measure but a survey undertaken by the district showed a large majority of those in the local business community, school personnel, community members and students like the idea of a K-12 charter school focused on science and math, two areas of study that often fall short in schools.

If the school goes forward, it — along with the Helios program — will represent a major commitment in our community to new approaches to education.