The Lowndes County School District will soon have its own alternative school.
Board members voted 3-0 during Monday night’s school board meeting to create an alternative school at West Lowndes Middle School. Board members Jacqueline Gray, who has been an opponent of locating the alternative school at West Lowndes, and Brian Clark were absent from the meeting.
Currently, the district pays the Columbus Municipal School District $260,000 a year to house approximately 30 students in the alternative program.
Board member Bobby Barksdale made the motion to create an alternative school at West Lowndes. Wes Barrett seconded the motion, with the stipulation that the board receive a monthly update on the students’ progress.
“I would say I’m in favor of an alternative school in Lowndes County,” Barrett said. “I would like us to receive a monthly update so we can measure the academic benchmarks, actual cost and success and failures. I want to be able to assess it, not just pass it and see how it is at the end of the year.”
Board president Jane Kilgore agreed with Barrett, saying, “I think if we’re going to do it, we need to do it right. I would love to see these kids grow. I want them to have as much success as anyone else.”
Barrett and Kilgore both questioned Superintendent Lynn Wright on how many teachers would be teaching the approximately 30 students. Wright has previously said that he wanted to utilize computer-based learning in the alternative school.
“We need to teach them and not just sit them down in front of a computer and expect them to teach themselves,” Kilgore said.
Wright addressed Kilgore’s concerns saying there would be teachers at the school who would be certified to teach elementary and high school students as well as special education. Wright did not say how many teachers would be at the school but said he felt the decision was a wise one.
“We just feel this will be in the best interests of all of out students,” he said.
West Lowndes Middle School has a current enrollment of 103 students. That number is expected to decrease to 95 in the 2014-2015 school year, school officials have previously said. West Lowndes Middle is designed to hold 500 students. However, as part of the district’s expansion plan, board members voted in November to close West Lowndes Middle. With the board voting to create an alternative school, West Lowndes Middle School will now stay open.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.