New home helps Danville's alternative education program

DANVILLE – Last year, Danville High School student Brittany Crosby got behind in English and science and ended up failing the classes. She worried that she might not graduate on time until she enrolled in the High School Options alternative-education program at Laura Lee Fellowship House.

"I like this program because there aren't as many people here. I can concentrate better," Crosby said Wednesday, as she worked on a chemistry lesson. "I'm already caught up in English."

"I like it because I can work at my own pace," added classmate Brittany Cross, who failed English, algebra and history last year. "And it's giving me a second chance."

This year, the Danville school district program has a new name and location thanks to a partnership with Laura Lee.

On Wednesday, Tracy Cherry-Hoskins, the alternative-education programming director, updated school board members on the program's changes and successes, including increased attendance and decreased discipline problems, and the need for more staffing. She also said she's exploring the idea of adding a GED program.

The High School Options and Middle School Options programs were formerly the Communities for Youth programs housed at the Fair Oaks public housing complex, under the district's partnerships with Project Success and the Danville Housing Authority. The changes were prompted after Project Success lost some funding and because the district needed to relocate the second-story classrooms at Fair Oaks to the ground floor.

"It's basically the same curriculum," Cherry-Hoskins said, adding students use textbooks and an online program. "It's a smaller group, so there aren't as many distractions. They get more one-on-one attention. And they can work at their own pace."

Though its role is not as large, Fair Oaks still provides liaisons who work with families of students from the housing complex, Cherry-Hoskins said. And, she said, Project Success will soon provide group counseling to students.

Under the new partnership, the district uses three classrooms at Laura Lee, including one for a special-education program. Students and teachers can also use other facilities, including the gym, computer room and kitchen.

Laura Lee staff members had to move some daytime activities to make room.

"But we are so happy to have them here," said Odette Hyatt-Watson, the agency's executive director. "It's a really good match, and it fits in with Miss Laura Lee's vision ... All we're really doing is housing them, but we greet them every morning and let them know they're welcome and that we'll support them as they work toward getting back on a positive path."

Teachers and students like their new quarters. At Fair Oaks, "each program was in its own separate little apartment," special education teacher Deb Runyan said. "There was no chance to mingle with other students. This gives the teachers a chance to network with each other and to bring the students together for large group presentations. The students like having the gym. We're able to use the track at the high school for P.E. And it's closer to our administrative building and our principal. The staff here at Laura Lee have been wonderful."

Other alternative programs are housed in the Jackson Building, the Boys and Girls Club, Meade Park Elementary School and the high school. There's also a program for incarcerated youths at the Vermilion County Juvenile Detention Center.

Cherry-Hoskins said it's still her goal to find a site to house most of the programs under one roof, and increase the number of students who can be served.

"We're investigating some options," she said, adding she's open to suggestions from the community.

 

DANVILLE – This year, the Danville school district's alternative-education programs are down 44 seats after losing two teachers and one classroom from last year.

Administrator Tracy Cherry-Hoskins said she is exploring options that would allow the program to serve more students.

"There is definitely a need, especially at the high school," she said, adding that's one of the reasons she would like to see most of the programs housed at one site, where they can expand.

Other long-range goals include adding more certified teachers. Last year, the Truants Alternative Optional Education Program at the Jackson Building had three, allowing student enrollment to reach 85, Cherry-Hoskins said.

Because the program is down one teacher this year, it can only serve about 50.

She also said there were two Communities for Youth classrooms for high-school-age students last year, serving 30 students. This year, there is only one classroom – now called the High School Options class – after losing a second teacher and less space at the Laura Lee Fellowship House.

"We're only able to accommodate 12 students," she said.

The director would also like to see the district staff the program with a full-time social worker next year. Right now, social worker Alison Watkins, who also works at Garfield Elementary, spends 2 1/2 days a week with students in all of the alternative-education programs, and social worker Stacey Lomax, who also works at Southwest Elementary, works with them once a week.

Cherry-Hoskins said a full-time social worker would be able to see more students, as well as provide more consistency.

"I'd like for all of my students to be able to meet with someone on a weekly basis," she said, adding many have emotional, social and/or mental health needs and could benefit from individual or group counseling.

In addition, Cherry-Hoskins sees a need for additional clerical staff and more technology as the program continues to grow.

NOELLE McGEE

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