A deadline passed last week for several students in the North Fork.
The Vision Charter Academy announced plans earlier this school year to stop all classes at the Paonia campus, reverting back to a resource for homeschooling families.
Avery McJunkin just finished up his sophomore year at the alternative school. He was one of several students that campaigned to keep the classes going.
“I suffer from ADHD and autism,” says Avery, “so most of my life I’ve been homeschooled. I don’t know, Vision just really clicked with me. I liked the ability to choose what I learn, choose a setting I was comfortable with, learn at my own pace. That’s why I wanted to avoid the public school. Everything is done there way, and that didn’t suit me.”
He joined Vision his freshman year of high school, on a condition: that he would not have to interact with students, and all of his learning would be one on one with the teacher. His mom, Heather McJunkin, says that this past year, Avery decided to join the classes.
“We kind of discovered it worked best for him. He moved away from that individual learning, and wanted to be in classes more and more,” says Heather.
“My grades got better, my work improved,” says Avery, “I got more done at a time and I got things done faster.”
Avery flourished so much that he received recognition at the end of the year, an award for courage.
“That was awarded because it was my first year in classes, a huge change for me,” says Avery. “Really, I’m still a solitary, introverted person. I’m not very social, but in that environment I managed to do so well. It was a big achievement and it took a lot of guts.”
Then, near the end of his first year of classes, Vision Charter Academy announced that enrollment was too low to continue the classes. The school would be downsized to just supporting families that homeschooled.
“One night my mom sat me down, and we went over it. Went over what we might be doing,” says Avery, “it was rough.”
At the suggestion of one of his teachers, he teamed up with some fellow students to create a petition. He became a leader in his classroom. The petition urged the board of stewards to reconsider. They were sympathetic, and told Avery that if he could help recruit 30 more students for next year, they would be able to afford to keep classes going.
That deadline was June 3. They didn’t reach their goal, and the school in Paonia will revert to supporting homeschoolers.
Avery’s teacher Chase Munson, who suggested the petition, says that the classes at the alternative school provided a community for students who may not have fit in elsewhere.
“It’s not just that they didn’t fit in academically at the public school, but most have had trouble socially,” says Munson, “whether it’s just being excluded, or bullied, or being a weird hippy, or a marginalized redneck, or whatever.”
“Or having different opinions,” added Avery.
“The way that the kids embraced Avery,” says Munson, “was so amazing. He’s a really different kid. He doesn’t sound like other kids. He’s a self-professed and proud nerd. So that’s one the things that’s unfortunate to see go: the social environment where kids who didn’t fit in elsewhere were able to find a community and find a voice.”
For next year, Avery plans on attending Vision’s Cedaredge campus, a 45 minute drive from Paonia.
