Alternative program move draws anger from parents
Konrad addresses parents about alternative school
Gideon Bradshaw/Observer-Reporte
Washington School District Superintendent James Konrad leads a tour of Washington Park Elementary.
Washington School District Superintendent James Konrad addresses parents and others in the gymnasium of Washington Park Elementary on Thursday before giving a tour of part of the school which will soon house an alternative education program administered by Intermediate Unit 1.
Plans to move a multidistrict alternative education program to Washington Park Elementary brought more than a few irate parents to the school Thursday evening.
The more than two-hour public event drew over 70 attendees who took a tour of the facilities, which was book-ended by question-and-answer sessions when many attendees blasted the district for the decision to move the multidistrict program – administered by Intermediate Unit 1 – into the K-6 building.
Michael Slack, whose daughter attends the elementary school, said the plans “sounds good on paper” but doubted the district could implement them safely.
“I would rather put money into the school they’re at now,” he said.
Slack was one of several parents who threatened to transfer their children during sometimes-heated exchanges with Superintendent James Konrad, who said the move wouldn’t endanger students.
“We looked at a variety of different alternatives … and to be honest with you, none of us would be in this room if I personally felt or the board personally felt that this wouldn’t be a good idea, if they didn’t think that our kids were going to be safe,” Konrad said.
The move out of the deteriorating Clark School, which the board unanimously approved May 21, allows the district to continue renting facilities for the program to the IU.
The program serves up to 23 students in grades 7-12 from school districts in the county that pay to send them.
Students can be referred into it for “any or all” of a variety of reasons, according to the IU’s website. Those include “disregard for school authority,” “violent or threatening behavior on school property,” “possession of a weapon on school property” and crimes on school property, among others.
Students in the program aren’t necessarily under court-ordered supervision, but an armed juvenile probation officer was present when the program was at the Clark building.
The new digs are on the same floor as the after-school, boot camp-style Leader Program, which is run by the county juvenile probation office and involves closer supervision of participants.
Students in the alternative program will use a separate entrance and cafeteria. Gates in the hallways and barriers on stairs will isolate them from the rest of the school.
Not everyone was against the move. Susan Lucero said she was satisfied the district was taking adequate security measures.
“I just think that every child deserves a chance at a good education,” said Lucero, whose granddaughter attends the elementary school.