New schools opening

By GLENN WOJCIAK
Hats Off Newsletter

Life Skills Centers is celebrating the opening of new schools in Detroit, Mich. and Florida.

Officials from White Hat Management and Covenant House dedicated a new 13,500-square-feet facility at Central High School in Detroit Aug. 14.

Cardinal Adam Maida, from the Archdiocese of Detroit, attended the dedication ceremony along with David Brennan, founder of White Hat Management. Also in attendance were Charles Parsons, President of Life Skills Centers, Janet Burns, Michigan State Executive for Life Skills Centers; retired Life Skills Centers Vice President Mary Kay Shields, and Antoinette Cunningham, Ambassador at Covenant House Life Skills Center Central.

The 150 students enrolled in the new high school will follow the Life Skills Centers model by pursuing their coursework online in four-hour-a-day sessions in a high tech, public charter school. The school accommodates student’s ages 16-19 seeking an alternative to traditional public schools.

Three new Life Skills Centers opened in Florida Aug. 20, increasing the educational opportunities for many Florida students.

Florida State Director Paul Jungkunz said the new schools are Life Skills Center Liberty City in Miami, Life Skills Center Orange County in Orlando and Life Skills Center Polk East, which will soon be moving to Winterhaven from a temporary location in Dundee.

Life Skills Centers serve a critical need in Florida and more centers are planned there.

“Many kids in Florida need the services we offer -- an alternative form of education,” Jungkunz said.

Florida Marlins infielder Dan Uggla is expected to make an appearance at a grand opening celebration planned at LSC Orange County Oct. 9.

The administrators of the three new schools are Thomas Hanley, LSC Liberty City; Dr. Bonnie King, LSC Orange County; and Regina Castillo, LSC Polk East.