Alternative Middle School, Level II (Grade 5-9)

Contact Person:  
Stacey Shehadi - Director of Alternative Education

Alternative Middle School
97 E. Genesee Street
Skaneateles, New York  13152
(315) 685-5623
Kristin Jeglinski - Social Worker

Alternative Middle School
BOCES Annex at St. Mary's School
17 Clymer Street
Auburn, NY 13021
Shelly Pflug - Social Worker


Program Description:
 These two middle school programs are designed to work with students who cannot be served in the home school district because of extended and prolonged disciplinary histories and/or general non-compliance to school rules.  Most students enter the program through a formal superintendent's dismissal hearing and must sign a contract that clearly outlines program expectations.  The program works with students in academic study areas that lead to academic and pro-social achievement.  Students served by this program are in need of counseling and support services as an alternative to an imminent risk for out-of-school or residential school placement typically arranged through the PINS process.  Staff will work in small group and individual settings to provide grade level academic instruction while developing strong systems of support for families via a school social worker.  Family counseling is a requirement of the program where an emphasis is placed on forming partnerships between the school and home.  The primary goal of the program is to reintegrate the student into their home schools.  When the students demonstrate improved academic and social skills, they return to their home school, on a full-time or limited basis.  This typically occurs after a semester or a complete year.  Some students transition to other alternative education settings that prepare them for the GED examination and vocational education.  Students participate for three hours of academic instruction during the day with four professionals at each site.  Two sessions with ten students per session constitute the instructional day.

Program Location:
The Alternative Middle School Level II programs are in two locations.  Classrooms are located at the BOCES Annex at St. Mary's School, 17 Clymer Street, and at the Skaneateles First Presbyterian Church, 97 E. Genesee Street.  Each location provides services to 20 students during the instructional day.  Classroom space has been designed to provide small group instruction and counseling for students and families.

Who Should Participate:
Characteristics of the typical entry level students who have become most successful include:
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Students exhibit behavior management needs beyond the scope of programming that exists in the home school and other alternative education programs.
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A variety of instructional strategies have been employed in the regular education classroom.  The student continues to demonstrate serious management difficulties.
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A series of short and long term suspensions have been employed and have not been effective in modifying behaviors.
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Multiple modifications to program have been attempted with no positive result.
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The student's behavior negatively affects the learning environment of others and dramatically slows the teaching-learning process of the class.
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The student has demonstrated behaviors that could pose a health and safety concern for themselves, their peers, and their teacher.
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The student has exhibited behaviors leading toward the criminal justice system.

The Alternative Middle School Level II program offers students:
- An opportunity to work on grade level academics within small group and individualized educational settings.
- An opportunity to increase pro-social skills within an environment that supports student acquisition of appropriate behavioral skills.
- An opportunity to develop and/or increase communication skills necessary to appropriately develop positive relationships with peers and adults.
- An opportunity to be a part of the educational team that determines educational, career, and personal goals.
- An opportunity to remain in the family and community and avoid residential placement.

Referral Process:
Students referred to the program will be taken through an intake evaluation process after an application is received from the home school district to the Director of Alternative Education.  This assessment will determine the appropriateness of the program for the student and family, directly assess the student's needs and goals, and establish an educational plan that prescribes length of placement, i.e. semester or full-year, and criteria for transition to a less restrictive learning environment.

Staffing:
Two teachers, one teacher assistant, and one school social worker are responsible for program delivery at each location.  This instructional team works with a total of 20 students during the regular school day.  Three groups of five students rotate through the program on each given day.  The average class size is 5 students.

Transition Information:
Students are required to complete grade level academic work while participating in this program.  A modified curriculum is employed that works on the four core subject areas of Math, Science, Social Studies, and English.  Transition goals are established during program participation that clearly define duration of participation and outline a continuing educational path that lead toward earning a high school diploma or GED diploma.  Communication with the home school is on going and seen as an essential component of this program.

Transportation:
Students are transported to these programs via home school buses.  Staggered instructional sessions provide for small group instruction.  The morning session is approximately 8:00 a.m. until 11 a.m.  The afternoon session runs from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m.  Scheduling of students is completed in a manner that attempts to meet the needs of both students and districts transportation requirements.

Cost:
Component school districts annually submit requests for services.  Enrollment for the current program is 20 students per site, total 40 students.  A tuition rate is established according to program needs and district requests.  Districts receive BOCES Aid on a charge basis per student.  Districts may choose to exchange slots during the school year with other districts when the need may arise.  Letters of agreement are required when this occurs.