News Photo by Steve Schulwitz On Thursday, people interested in homeschooling their children listened to a presentation at the APlex about the possible creation of a new homeschooling co-op in Alpena.

ALPENA — Parents seeking educational alternatives for their children may have another option in the coming weeks.

A group of concerned parents and residents in Alpena County have taken the initial steps to create a homeschooling cooperative, which would provide education to kids at home, but still offer field trips and mentoring from local professionals.

At a meeting at the APlex on Thursday, more than 50 people learned more about homeschooling, as well as the grassroots effort underway to create a homeschool co-op called the United Conservitive Voice Co-op.

The curriculum would focus on conservative views and teachings, according to co-op officials.

The informational meeting was held three days after an intense Alpena Public Schools Board of Education meeting at which many attendees — who were also at Thursday’s meeting — tried to convince the school board not to institute a mask mandate, the teaching of critical race theory and the use of social emotional learning.

Public comment at school board meetings has shown a political divide on policies like a mask mandate and critical race theory, as both left and right leaning residents argue their positions to the trustees on school issues.

At a town hall meeting last month, APS Superintendent Dave Rabbideau addressed concerns about critical race theory, saying it was a ‘high-level post-secondary theory’ that wasn’t in the district’s standards and not taught.

Numerous medical organizations and health professionals have indicated that wearing masks helps protect people from COVID-19 so students can continue in-person learning.

United Conservitive Voice Co-op Chairman Michael Mantas, who also chairs the Alpena County Republican Party, said parents can use any curriculum they want at home. The co-op would use a curriculum, called the 1776 Curriculum, that will be used by Hillsdale College’s K-12 Homeschool Academy in 2022.

“It will be a pro-America, America-first, and patriot-leaning curriculum,” he said. “The UCV is acting to provide options for the K-12 education that do not include the political indoctrination of our government schools, including mask mandates, critical race theory, and social emotional learning.”

A board was created to start the project, but it is going to take the effort of students, parents, and others who seek an alternative education option outside of the public schools to get the co-op off the ground and running, organizers said.

Chris Couture-Coultes, UCV treasurer, said planning is still in the early stages, and there is a lot of work to do and things to learn. If everyone chips in and dedicates their resources, talents, and knowledge, the co-op could be a viable option for parents who disapprove of the handling of the students and curriculum at APS, Couture-Coultes said.

“We want to have a safety net for the people who left that (school board) meeting asking themselves, ‘What am I going to do with my kids and where do I go from here?'” Couture-Coultes said at the APlex meeting. “We are sort of flying by the seat of our pants right now, but our vision is right and we will learn along the way.”

Couture-Coultes said some business leaders have come forward to offer assistance, as have some parents who homeschool their kids. She said some skilled trade professionals are also interested in helping to teach students.

“We all have something to offer,” she said. “Everyone has something they can teach our kids.”

Rabbideau said public schools have always contended with homeschooling institutions.

He said losing a small portion of the school district’s population to homeschooling would cost the school system needed revenue from the state — where most public school funding comes from — but not enough to hurt the school significantly. Rabbideau said he believes parents have a right to choose what type of education fits their children best, and, if APS isn’t their cup of tea, he accepts that.

“Homeschooling has been part of the fabric of education in Michigan for a very long time, so we learn and adapt and continue to offer our product,” Rabbideau said. “I fully support parents’ decisions around education. Public schools can’t be all things to all people, and if they have got a better product through home school, then I support their decision.”

Marie Fielder, chairwoman of the Alpena County Democratic Party, said neither herself, or the party, have any comment on the attempt to form the homeschool co-op.