Oak Park Independent School offers option

For those who have trouble adhering to restrictive scheduleOak Park Independent Schoo(OPIS) is committed to providin'-students with the breathing room not offered within traditional school hours.

Now in its eighth year of operation, the school offers students in kindergarten through grade 12 the opportunity to receive a quality education without the constant din of the school bell.

The ability to complete academics at their own convenience allows the students to engage in their extracurricular passions, and the school is brimming with successes both inside and outside of class.

"Our program allows kids to chase after their dreams while still receiving a quality education," said Lou Tabone, director of alternative education for the Oak Park Unified School District.

Participants in the home study program are required to visit Red Oak Elementary School once a week to pick up new assignments and turn in completed ones. The curriculum covers all the requirements of other schools in the Oak Park district, including laboratory sciences. Science lessons are conducted at home with "labs in a box," which consist of portable, nonvolatile experiments.

Barbara Harrison, Kate Thompson and Jane Schulze comprise the teaching staff and are responsible for monitoring the students' progress and addressing their needs.

"I have the best teaching staff in all of Southern California," Tabone said. "Some of the staff have homeschooled their own children, and they all help to personalize the OPIS experience for every child."

Southern California is teeming with budding thespians, but dreams of acting are often quashed by a hectic school schedule. OPIS counters this predicament by providing students with a flexible schedule that allows future stars to attend auditions and rehearsals by day and train their brains at night.

The school's ranks include a number of actors including Vanessa Marano, 14, who had a recurring role on the WB's "Gilmore Girls," Julia Goglia, 10, who has been featured on episodes of "ER" and "CSI," and Austin Sauer, 10, who has performed locally at the Stage Door Inn.

Ayla Kell, 17, has danced with the American Ballet Theater in its production of "The Nutcracker" and also with a youth ballet group that won the Youth American Grand Prix festival. Her success was in part aided by the OPIS program which allowed her to engage in her timeconsuming love for dance while also receiving an education.

But the accolades are not restricted to the arts alone, and many of the school's students have had great success with athletics.

Aubree Stark, 17, recently shattered the Oak Park High School pole-vaulting record. Adam Quinn, 16, serves as the setter for the Synergy Volleyball Team, the No. 1 ranked team for players 16 and younger. Shayne Austin, 12, is ranked 30th in California and 126th nationally for tennis.

The world of extreme sports has not gone unchallenged by OPIS students. Chris Hughes, 17, has accumulated a number of sponsors as a professional BMX rider.

There are also a number of academic superstars. Jeremy Burgess, 17, was recently recognized as a National Merit Scholar. Alex Guerra, 17, will pursue a double major at UC Santa Barbara and Kendra Yoshinaga, 12, has competed in the Ventura County and national spelling bees.

"(This school) got me a lot further than I ever would have gotten had I been in regular public school because I have more time to study," Yoshinaga said. "I'm way more flexible, and it's very nice to have some of the curriculum tailored to my interests."

Every student who has taken an AP exam has passed, according to school officials.

The students are also far from being social recluses and don't support the stereotype of homeschooled children. OPIS has enacted a number of programs to make sure children are offered the same social benefits they would receive at a standard public school.

"We monitor for (signs of) social isolation and plug the kids in to community activities if we feel they need them, but too often, these kids are involved in too much," Tabone said.

Field trips to the downtown Los Angeles Public Library, California Science Museum, Moorpark College Teaching Zoo and more are offered as enrichment programs.

A sense of community appreciation is fostered through volunteer programs.

"OPIS recently adopted an inner city school and held a supply drive for them," Tabone said. "We donated over 300 bucks and school supplies to the campus."

Another benefit offered students is the work experience program. Students receive elective credit for employment.

"Businesses are happy with the program because the kids are available when the owners need them," Tabone said.

For parents interested in finding out more about the school, an orientation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tues., May 30 in the multipurpose room at Red Oak Elementary School, 4857 Rockfield Street, Oak Park.