If the opinions of the parents of the young children who attend it are any indication, the first year of operation at The Mountain School was a rousing success.
Standing before the Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commission, a procession of parents praised the school's innovative curriculum and said the institution should be allowed to continue its operations.
During the meeting in Hailey last Thursday, the P&Z unanimously approved a one-year status review of the conditional-use permit that allows the environmentally conscious school to operate. The school is north of Bellevue along the Big Wood River.
The Waldorf-affiliated school opened its doors to children last fall. It offers a "hands-on" educational experience for children 4 to 6 years old. The school also offers after-school programs for 7- to 12-year-old children and a variety of summer programs.
Prior to its opening last year, the head of the school explained how the privately run school operates.
"The bottom line is we are trying to work with children through movement and sensory integration," said Katherine Woods. "Everything they're learning about they see in real life, whether it's on the farm, in the garden or wilderness, or in the kitchen."
As part of their approval of the permit authorizing the school, the commissioners also agreed to Wood's request to expand the number of students who can attend the school from 20 to 27 and allowed a decrease in the number of parking spaces from 20 slots to 12.
