Seven Oaks Classical School Seeks Charter Through New Authorizer

Photo Credit: Seven Oaks Classical School website

Seven Oaks Classical School in Bloomington continues in its pursuit to open in August 2016. School leaders are trying to gain a charter authorization, this time through Grace College & Seminary.

The Indiana Charter School Board denied Seven Oaks’ application last year. The school pulled its second application to the same board earlier this year.

If opened, Seven Oaks would teach students according to a “traditional, classical-liberal arts curriculum,” according to the proposed school’s website.

Terry English is a member of Seven Oaks’ board and says the group decided to pursue a charter with Grace College because they felt the college better understood the mission of Seven Oaks.

“There’s not as much of a political influence on the college, I think, as there is on the state board,” English says. “We believe that Grace College is more in line with the vision that we have for the school.”

Grace College currently authorizes two other charter schools in the state: Smith Academy for Excellence in Fort Wayne and Dugger Union Community School in Dugger.

Compared to previous applications, English says this go-around brings a few big changes to the makeup of Seven Oaks, if approved. First, the school will provide meal service to students during the day, something that wasn’t included in its application to the charter board. Leaders also want to serve students K-12; they had previously planned to only educate students through grade 8.

English says the school would initially only go up to eighth grade, but add consecutive grade levels each year after opening.

Tim Ziebarth oversees charter authorizations for Grace College and says he looks at the school’s leadership and academic programs when considering authorization. Ziebarth says the fact that the Indiana Charter School Board didn’t want to authorize the Seven Oaks isn’t a reason for Grace College to do the same.

“I think there can be things learned from it – potentially better plans, potentially better questions to think through. Not every charter application gets approved,” Ziebarth says. “Some folks take three, four, five years to get their charter approved.”

Grace College is hosting a public meeting in Bloomington in two weeks to get public input about the school and learn more from the Seven Oaks’ board about plans for the school. The meeting takes place Nov. 4 at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites at 117 S Franklin Rd.