By Megan Kelley
Review Writer
Lake Orion Community School’s Curriculum Committee shared several new implementations that the district would be expecting to try out next school year.
Two stand outs include Dragon University and High School Flex time.
Dragon University would be offered to teachers throughout the district (and possibly outside of the district in the future) as an alternate way for them to continue to take college-level courses outside of traditional universities.
“The teaching and learning department is working on the development of classes that may be taken by teachers to earn their credits toward an M.A.-plus 15 or an M.A.-plus 30,” said board Secretary Dana Mermell. “These classes would target teachers that do not wish to enroll in a university program but would like to earn credits to advance on the salary schedule.”
Currently, if teachers wish to move up on the salary schedule they can take classes or online classes through traditional universities. Dragon University would allow LOCS to have programing that meets district needs and the needs of their teachers, Mermell said.
“There are still some logistics to work out but it’s still a really exciting concept,”said Mermell.
LOCS is hopeful that this new development will help the district continue to excel.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of such a forward-thinking district. The professional and personal growth gained through Dragon University will benefit both the staff and students of LO,” said Jeff Faber, president of the Lake Orion Education Association.
Something else the Curriculum Committee discussed was plans to pilot Flex Time at the high school.
“What this means is they’re going to take a small group of seniors and they’re going to allow them to start at 9 a.m. and get out at 4 p.m.,” said Mermell.
“This is something that we have talked about for several years and that we have really wanted to do. I don’t need to tell you that all of the research clearly shows that our students at that age need to be able to start a little bit later,” said Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Heidi Mercer.
“Most districts, you will find, usually go at the high school and go full bore and just start everybody later. I really didn’t want to do that here. I think that students need to have choice.” Mercer said. “We do have some students that do have jobs and things like that, so they need to get out a little bit early so they need to start earlier. We’re going to try and approach it a little bit differently here in Lake Orion and offer students a choice.
“With that, you also know that we have a very unique schedule with the modified block so we have a lot of different moving parts and pieces. So next fall, I’m going to be working with (High School Principal) Steve (Hawley), we’re going to be working with a very small senior pilot (group) of volunteer students that would start school approximately at 9 a.m. and get out approximately at 4 p.m. We’re looking at targeting the required class of Personal Finance, so that would be pretty easy, and then we’re going to see how it goes from there; hopefully, the following year we grow it a little bit bigger and then by the third year, depending on how things go, it would be offered for all students at the high school,” said Mercer. “I’m really very excited about this initiative and this pilot. Like I said, it’s been something we’ve been talking about for several years and really wanting to do so we’re going to make it happen and see how it works.”
The district is hoping to allow 30-60 students to test out this new schedule but it is still unclear how many students will be a part of this pilot group.
In the future, because of rotating student schedules due to seasonal clubs, sports and other activities it seems as though it is very possible this will be available on a term-to term-basis.

Lake Orion Community School’s Board of Education will meet again on April 10 at the LOCS Administration Building.