Editor

Although the Claiborne County Board of Education voted recently to close the Renaissance School, the Claiborne County Alternative School is now open.

The alternative school provides the same services as the Renaissance School, but with a scaled down staff and smaller facility. The school is located in the band room of the old Claiborne County High School and is staffed by three certified teachers, one teacher's aide, and one VISTA volunteer from the Tennessee Literary Coalition, said Carl Nichols, curriculum coordinator. The Renaissance School, was staffed by 13 people, including 11 certified teachers and was located in the old CCHS building.

The main concentration of the alternative school remains students that are sent there as a result of zero tolerance, but they also have students that are there as a result of court order or some type of discipline problem, Nichols explained. In addition to classes, the alternative school provides counseling services, any special education services students are entitled to as well as any other services that may be ordered by the court.

With the old band room serving as the facility, space might be a concern as the school progresses, he said. Right now, there are 14 students in the alternative school, but they can accommodate no more than 30 students.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Nichols said.

Students sent to the school as discipline problems leave after 30 days so that allows for some openings, he explained.

"Most of these kids are good kids," Nichols said that often students are sent there as a matter of situations beyond the control of their families.

When students arrive on the alternative school it is usually the first time that many of them have been in such a small environment and get one on one attention. For many, it marks the first time in their lives they progress as students. And for most of the students, the concentrated attention is so strong that they do not want to leave the school, even when they sent back to their traditional school, he said. Nichols noted that some people have the idea that the alternative school is primarily for punishment, not education.

"No one here [Claiborne County] ever understood what alternative education is all about," he said.

The alternative school still offers G.E.D. programs in the downstairs area of the building. Currently, 28 students are working on a G.E.D. or regular diploma, said Nichols. Since most people cannot afford the $63 G.E.D. test fee, the alternative school has fundraisers periodically to maintain a G.E.D. scholarship program to fund tests for those that cannot afford it. They also offer a $250 scholarship to a deserving G.E.D. graduate that goes on to college. The fundraisers also help pay for basic school supplies that some students cannot afford such as paper and pencils, etc.

The alternative school is affiliated with Claiborne High School, so Steve Minton is actually the principal. Jim Shipley serves as vice-principal of the alternative school. Nichols is the curriculum coordinator, Amy Moss is the special education teacher, Christy McCartt is the special education aide, Jennifer Short serves as VISTA volunteer, and John Woods is the G.E.D. teacher.

Richard Evans is Editor of the Claiborne Progress. He can be reached via e-mail at revans@claiborneprogress.net.