REGIONAL- Some changes are ahead for Vermilion Country School as it opens its second campus in Mt. Iron, though students in Tower will see their school operating as normal.
The Tower-based charter school recently took over the ERATS charter school, and is operating that site as Vermilion Country School- Mt. Iron campus in the same building located in Mt. Iron, tucked behind the Walmart building. The new Mt Iron campus, open for grades 9-12, will be offering the same curriculum as Vermilion Country School in Tower. Previous ERATS students can continue their high school education in the same building, but now they will be enrolled through Vermilion Country School.
Thirteen ERATS teachers will be continuing to teach in the building, which will have a total staff of 17. Almost all the staff spent some time over the summer in professional training, getting trained in classroom and teaching techniques that had already been adopted by the staff at Tower. The Mt. Iron staff has also been meeting once a week throughout the summer, getting classrooms and the building ready for opening day, and preparing for the upcoming school year.
About 100 students are enrolled to start school in Mt. Iron this September, which is about average for that school, said school director Sam O’Brien, who said the school tends to gain more students as the school year progresses, a pattern also seen in Tower.
New students are still welcome to enroll in all grades at both sites for the upcoming school year, which begins on Sept. 8. While VCS did have to cap enrollment at Tower midway through last school year, O’Brien said VCS does have openings at all grade levels at this time. The Tower campus is expected to start the year with 65 students. O’Brien said the Tower campus has seen more new students enroll over the summer than in past years. This means, he said, more families are planning ahead, rather than waiting to switch partway through the school year.
The new Mt. Iron campus is hosting an open house in the former ERATS building on Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. The site will enroll students in grades 9 – 12. Come meet the returning and new staff, and learn about the new curriculum offerings and opportunities, and register for classes.
The original Tower campus, at 1 Enterprise Dr., is hosting an open house the following day, on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. This site enrolls students in grades 7 – 12. Students and families are invited to come meet returning and new staff, as well as register for classes.
Families will receive a “to-go” hot dinner (burgers or tacos) at both open house events.
Both school campuses are free, public schools, and provide breakfast and lunch, as well as transportation services. The two campuses are being operated as individual schools.
“Just like a district with more than one school,” said O’Brien.
Vermilion Country School provides a safe and supportive environment for students from 7th grade (Tower campus) and 9th grade (Mt. Iron campus) through age 21. Vermilion Country School encourages the development of academic, social, and emotional maturity. VCS recognizes that all students are on their own path and timelines in regard to achieving their greatest potential. VCS staff meets students where they are and encourages them to take the next steps in their development.
Vermilion Country School actively looks for what makes each student special. VCS students meet all the Minnesota Academic Standards for high school graduation. VCS offers both a traditional in-school experience and hybrid (online plus in-person) school schedules to best meet the needs of students. This allows older high school students to maintain part-time employment or help with family obligations. The school offers hands-on learning, frequent field trips, cultural programming, life skills, and more student support services than a traditional public school.
For more information, call the school at 218-753-1246 or info@vermilioncountry.org. Website is www.vermilioncountry.org.