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Scranton alternative school may not open until 2014

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A new alternative school for the Scranton School District may not be ready until January 2014.

Officials had hoped to have the school for students with behavioral problems, planned for the former Lincoln-Jackson elementary school, ready for the fall. But with renovation work yet to begin and curriculum that still needs to be determined, that may not happen, Superintendent William King said.

The state Department of Education has started the process of reviewing documents that are required for partial state reimbursement, and state officials said the prospective opening date may be "a little aggressive," Mr. King said.

Preliminary renovation plans were presented in August and include exterior work and making the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The building at Academy Street and South Hyde Park Avenue was closed in 2011 when Isaac Tripp elementary school opened. Renovation work is projected to cost $3.9 million.

The district places dozens of students in an after-school alternative program or in programs outside the district each year. Even if a student is expelled from school, the district continues to be responsible for that child's education, including the full cost.

School board members have said opening an alternative school could save the district money and may also be a revenue source if surrounding districts choose to send their students there.

School board President Sean O'Shea said it's a project he fully supports.

Along with the renovation work to the school, the district must also determine the curriculum. The district has looked at the possibility of contracting with an outside company - such as Camelot, which runs a school in Lancaster - to operate the school. Mr. King hopes some board members will visit the Lancaster school in early 2013.

If the program is fully run in-house, the district must also look at the staffing of the program and developing its full curriculum, Mr. King said.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter


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