NAFCS is moving its alternative school services from the Education Support Center into the schools due to staffing shortages. The transition will provide better educational opportunities and experiences for students, As detailed in Michele Ferree, director of student support services. The alternative school program serves students who need additional support, including those with individualized education plans and those facing disciplinary measures. The district is not closing the alternative school but adjusting how it is offered to better meet the needs of the students. The ESC will continue to house the district’s student support services program.
NAFCS to Move Alternative School Out of Education Support Center
NAFCS is making changes to its alternative school program by moving it out of the Education Support Center (ESC) and into the students’ home schools. This decision comes as a result of staffing shortages at the ESC, which have made it difficult to adequately offer programming, safety, and educational outcomes for students. The district wants to ensure that students receive the best educational opportunities and experiences, and believes that transitioning the program back to the home schools will achieve this goal.
Transitioning for Better Educational Opportunities
The transition of the alternative school program from the ESC to the home schools is aimed at providing better educational opportunities and experiences for students. By moving the program closer to the students’ home schools, they will have more ready access to resources and support from their regular school environments. This change will benefit students who require additional support, including those with individualized education plans and those facing disciplinary measures. NAFCS emphasizes that the alternative school program is not closing, but rather adjusting how it is offered to better meet the needs of the assigned students.
Staffing Shortages Prompting the Transition
The decision to transition the alternative school program is largely due to staffing shortages at the ESC. With the recent resignation of some staff members, the ESC was left with limited resources to adequately offer the program. The district acknowledges the tremendous work done by the administration and staff to make this transition happen sooner rather than later. NAFCS is actively hiring for positions in the alternative education program to ensure the continued provision of support for the approximately 36 students served by the program.
The ESC will continue to house the district’s student support services program, which includes special education, psychology services, nursing, and social services. The transition will also provide students with access to better meals, as the ESC does not have a full kitchen. In retrospect, the move is aimed at improving the educational experiences and outcomes for students in the alternative school program.
