Grand Rapids now has two Latin-teaching classical schools after a messy divorce split up custody of the kids.

Now each side is looking toward the future and trying to keep things amicable.

Trinitas Classical School is embarking on its first year with optimism and 25 students. It rose out of a dispute between parents and the principal at North Hills Classical Academy that prompted nearly half the 100 students to leave this year and attend either Trinitas or schools in Forest Hills.

North Hills, in operation since 1998, became mired in controversy in the spring when the board of directors resigned after a dispute with Headmaster Peter VandeBrake.

VandeBrake's financial decisions came under fire, as did what many parents described as his autocratic style of running the private school.

Now the school has about 60 students, with teachers holding classes with fewer than a dozen students each.

Meanwhile, Trinitas puts kindergartners through sixth-graders in classrooms borrowed from NorthPointe Christian Elementary on the Northeast Side while leaders search for a new site.

"It's all been very positive," said Doug Poortenga, vice president of the Trinitas school board and a former parent at North Hills. "We really want to move forward."

Trinitas shares the classical teaching philosophy of North Hills. It combines Christian values instruction with a curriculum based on a rigorous ancient model of education called the Trivium -- including the teaching of Latin starting in elementary grades.

This will mean Grand Rapids will have two of the three Michigan classical academies, but VandeBrake said there is room for both to succeed.

North Hills charges a tuition of between $3,750 and $5,950, depending on the grade, while Trinitas has a rate of $3,000 for kindergarten and $5,000 for other grades.

"We're starting to see classical education permeate our society," said Tom Walsh, business manager at North Hills. "We need this option in Grand Rapids."

But the dispute did prove costly for the school.

Frederick Stingle had his children at North Hills and looked at Trinitas, but decided to send his children to public schools, even though he liked the classical teaching model.

"It's a good curriculum," Stingle said. "I'm sure everything will work out with both their schools."

Poortenga said the challenge of starting a school is daunting, but believes parents are committed and they have hired a qualified staff, including Headmaster Peter Marth.

Marth, who was a Lutheran pastor in Wisconsin, has taught in the classical curriculum at other schools. He also taught Greek at Concordia College.

"We've hired a staff that has experience and has a joy of teaching," said Jennifer Hascall, a board trustee and former North Hills parent.

With the concerns at North Hills in mind, the Trinitas board also plans to make sure it is in charge of school finances and policy decisions. North Hills bylaws were hazy about who had final authority and the dispute came to involve teachers who sided with VandeBrake. Eventually the school board was replaced by people hand-picked by VandeBrake.

But VandeBrake said North Hills is moving past old problems. He said the school is debt-free and the bylaws are being changed to be more clear about who is in charge.

North Hills has fewer teachers this year, but they left on their own, and no one had to be laid off, VandeBrake said.