The students who are recommended for placement come to the Center with a variety of problems, including chronic absenteeism, truancy, behavior problems, a history of abuse, a lack of social competence and interaction skills, involvement with the court system and expressed disenchantment with school. The Center, located in the former Parks and Recreation building, currently has slots for forty students in grades 7-12. In addition a G.E.D. preparation program is coordinated through the center with classes held at Osbourn High School. Individualized instruction, small class sizes, and various special programs are among the tools used to reach these students who have had difficulty functioning in a normal school environment.
Classes are small and informal, and as much effort is put into affective concerns as academic ones.
The presence of two psychologists on-site allows for intensive group and crisis counseling. Staff and students get to know each other not just from an academic perspective, but as individuals. The goal of the Alternative Education Center is to rekindle hope and skills in our students by helping to provide remediation and support to help them develop into contributing citizens of our community and to modify their social skills and behavior to levels appropriate for success in returning to traditional academic settings.