At one point the board of education and the superintendent looked at putting problem students out of school all together. However, they decided that wouldn't work for 2 reasons. It hurts the students socially, and when they come back they are behind in work. "We have a number of children who are not meeting with success in regular school," Assistant Superintendent William McNeal said. "Many are very large places to be. Because they don't feel comfortable there."
Therefore, an alternative education like the one provided at Longview School becomes essential. "The students who come here, they come here as a result of their behavior being so much of a problem that it is disruptive not just of a classroom, but of an entire school," Principal Kathy Chontos said.
Principal Chontos said that their students get a chance to deal with those problems and still get an education, instead of being on the streets. Everything is tailored to meet the student's individual needs. "Students can come out of the environment where they are having all the problems," Program Coordinator Marvin Connelly said. "Find out what the problems may be, assess those problems, receive some behavioral modification; some intervention to help them go back with new skills.""An alternative school becomes a nice haven for them because it also helps them get on track," McNeal said.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
