In March of 2006, the City of Peoria, through its Renaissance Park Commission, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the District 150 Board of Education to research and develop a project proposal for a Math, Science and Technology Academy (MSTA). The Renaissance Park Education Committee engaged Bradley University's Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) to conduct the research. The research group, comprised of ILR members and representatives from Renaissance Park and other institutions, named themselves the Mathematics, Science, and Technology Explorers (MST Explorers). Between May and October 2006, they defined the problem, conducted local interviews, explored best practices, evaluated models and options, and developed and refined a set of recommendations.

In 2008, the District 150 Board of Education authorized a group of community leaders, school administrators and parents to evaluate bringing a charter school to Peoria. Led by former District 150 Associate Superintendent Dr. Cindy Fischer, an advisory group was established to begin researching, evaluating, and visiting charter schools throughout the country to learn more about this new educational approach. Later, a steering committee was formed with the mission of representing and acting in the interest of the Advisory Committee, giving ongoing oversight to move the Charter School process forward. The following are the Advisory and Steering Committee members.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• Ken Hinton - Peoria Public Schools
• Dr. David Gorenz - Peoria Board of Ed/OSF
• Mary Spangler - Peoria Board of Ed/Parent
• Glen Barton - Caterpillar (retired)
• Dr. John Erwin - Illinois Central College
• Dr. Jeff Nelson - Regional Office of Education
• Dr. John Avendano - Illinois Central College
• Barbara VanAuken - City of Peoria Councilwoman/Renaissance Park
• Mike Dugard - Renaissance Park Commissioner/OLLI, Retired Teacher
• Sue Wozniak - OSF
• Dr. Cindy Fischer - Peoria Public Schools/Renaissance Park Commissioner
• James Richmond - E-Serve
• Alice Price - Methodist Medical Center
• Dr. Sarah Rush - UNICOMP
• Dr. John Halverson - UNICOMP
• Jeff Bennington - CGN
• Elizabeth Shultz - Caterpillar
• Carry Wahlfeld - Parent
• Jeff McCombs - Farnsworth Group
• Mac Pogue - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University; IBM, retired
• Dr. Bob Bolla - Bradley University
• Dr. Joan Sattler - Bradley University
• McFarland Bragg - PCCEO
• Jim Montelongo - Advanced CAD/CAM, City of Peoria - Councilman
• Laraine Bryson - Tri-County Urban League
• Ginger Johnson - PALM/TRICON
• Patrick Roesler - G&D Integrated and Chamber of Commerce Ed. Comm.
• Marty Clinch - IBEW and Chamber Education Committee
• Rob Parks - Chamber of Commerce
• Dr. Vicky Stewart - ICC/Chamber Education Committee
• David Henebry - LZT
• Ray Lees - PSA Dewberry
• Paul Kouri - PSA Dewberry
• Ed Berry - Farnsworth Group

STEERING COMMITTEE

• Glen Barton - CEO Caterpillar, retired
• Dr. Vicky Stewart - Vice President, Illinois Central College
• McFarland Bragg - CEO,PCCEO
• Mac Pogue - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University; IBM, retired
• Jeff McCombs - Marketing and Public Relations Director, Farnsworth Group
• Roberta Parks - COO, Chamber of Commerce
• Cindy Fischer - Former Associate Superintendent, Peoria Public Schools; Renaissance Park Commissioner