A group in Winnebago is attempting to find out the interest in starting a new private school in the city.

The Winnebago Education Task Force (WETF) mailed out a one-sheet informational flyer and survey to area residents.

In it, they say the Genesis Classical Academy (GCA), a newly established non-profit school, has shown an interest in establishing a private school in the Winnebago area.

The flyer goes on to say that “the GCA has offered the WETF the option of making use of GCA’s foundational work for establishing a private school in Winnebago.”

The private school option would require great flexibility in its operation, but would also require tuition and fundraising efforts, it adds.

The school would open this fall, if enough interest is found, the letter indicates.

It also states that in 2008-2009 the WETF took “a serious look at starting a charter school in Winnebago. In the midst of that effort the Minnesota Legislature changed the laws governing charter schools, which made it much more difficult to get a school started, and the effort was dropped.”

The survey portion of the flyer asks questions about how many children the respondee has, what grades they are in and how they rate the current level of academic learning their children are receiving.

It also asks questions about considering sending children to Genesis Classical Academy.

The survey also indicates private school costs run around $3,000 to $5,000 per year per student or more. Some of the other questions ask about helping students with tuition costs, or being a part an organizing group for the school.

The survey is supposed to be returned by May 1, according to a statement on the flyer.