David C. Behner, assistant superintendent of Canton City Schools, and co-chairwoman Peg Deibel headed the committee to make Passages a reality. Deibel said about the work of the last year. The school, located in the Martin Center at 1253 Third St. SE, officially opened on Dec. 14. The school has a capacity of 60 students. The classrooms at Passages are different from what is normally expected in a high school.
Every classroom includes a teacher and a behavior interventionist.
The interventionist is in the classroom to deal specifically with any behavior problems that might arise. One of the biggest differences in Passages is the absence of traditional textbooks. In place of the textbooks, students are given written handouts and participate in hands-on field trips to stimulate learning. Kim Redmond, the program director, said the atmosphere of the school is very relaxed. The dress code is the same for students and teachers and if the teachers allow it, the students can call them by their first name.