Lake Pend Oreille trustees unanimously approved relocating the district’s alternative school, pushing ahead despite a packed meeting and a formal grievance. The decision was made to balance budget concerns due to declining enrollment and provide additional electives for students.

Background

The vote follows months of controversy over the planned relocation, including a formal grievance filed with state and federal officials by a coalition of former educators and patrons who criticized parts of the process to relocate the school. Superintendent Becky Meyer argued that declining enrollment at Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School justifies relocating it to portables and a former driver’s education building behind Sandpoint Middle School.

Meyer said the move would reduce costs and transportation time by relocating students from the school’s more than 100-year-old building to Sandpoint High School, where a new career technical education building is set to open this fall. She outlined other options for the alternative school’s students, like remaining in the current building and taking electives online or through independent study, or closing the school altogether and shifting students online or to the traditional high school program. Meyer does not support either option.

Reaction

Patron Terry Pardini argued that the program serves vulnerable students and that the district should absorb the increased costs to offer electives in the current location. Two patrons spoke in support of the move, including Heather Loman, who said the decision-making process was clear and transparent. Board member Scott Wood said it doesn’t make fiscal sense to keep the school open in its current location, while trustee David DeMers argued that alternative school students often stay in Sandpoint after graduation and are essential to the community.

Chair Lonnie Williams expressed frustration with the grievance complaint, calling it “full of false information” and reiterating the board’s desire to keep the alternative school open. After an outburst from the crowd, trustee Mahle Williams spoke up, saying “I just wanted to say I hope that what you’re hearing is that we support this program, we support the kids, the community supports the kids.”

Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.