Special-needs School Opens in Halethorpe

Students, faculty and parents celebrated the Sept. 6  ribbon-cutting of Compass Academy, a private school for children with learning disabilities that has leased the former Ascension School on the 4600-block of Maple Avenue in Halethorpe.

The school was founded eight weeks after parents learned that Norbel School in Elkridge unexpectely ceased operations. A task force of former Norbel parents and staff founded the new school.

"Working as a team, anything is possible," said Executive Director Kristin Fleckenstein. "We've proven that today."

"We've accomplished this in two months," noted Frank Pugliese, the acting head of the school.

Compass Academy began its inaugural year on Aug. 29 with 30 students.

The academy is filing for accreditation with the Maryland State Department of Education, which Fleckenstein said it hopes to have approved by late fall.