Updated 5/11/2021 7:40 PM
The John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School in Aurora is slated to shut down at the end of next academic year, its governing board decided Tuesday in a devastating blow to parents and students who have been fighting to keep the program alive.
Superintendents from three of the four partnering school districts, as well as Aurora University President Rebecca Sherrick, voted to terminate their involvement in the 200-student school -- at least in its existing format.
They left the door open for a re-imagined partnership with a broader scope and a greater impact on students and educators.
"That's an important piece, that we moved away from this current model, and we're looking forward to a different partnership that helps promote those ideals of greater student exposure to STEM and creating more expertise throughout our teaching staff," said West Aurora District 129 Superintendent Jeff Craig, chairman of the governing board that comprises Sherrick and the four superintendents.