Reid shut down alternative programs...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are actually closing down Mountain View and Bryant high schools and it was never discussed publicly?

No. OP is saying they are closing programs that have co-existed with larger programs at Bryant and Mountain View. They haven't clarified what happens to these kids, who apparently are at ALCs (alternative learning centers) because they are among the most troubled kids in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was the AIM program. Is that different from ALC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was the AIM program. Is that different from ALC?

AIM and ALC are different programs. AIMs can’t be shut down because it houses the highest level of offenders. But they are making staffing changes to AIM that will jeopardize the safety of everyone involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have this in writing? What will the hearings office do if they can’t send kids to alternative learning centers, which is where they send kids? Keep them in the base school?

FCPS should be increasing special education budget, safety budget, hiring more SROS and security guards.

I think most parents in the county would support folding the ALCs into the existing alternative schools if that helps maintain staffing levels at other schools.

There is only so much money that can be spent on alternative programs, special education, and SROs.

Come on, you know that Reid wouldn’t go for that. The ALCs have the most troubled kids, they will go right to Langley for equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are actually closing down Mountain View and Bryant high schools and it was never discussed publicly?

No. OP is saying they are closing programs that have co-existed with larger programs at Bryant and Mountain View. They haven't clarified what happens to these kids, who apparently are at ALCs (alternative learning centers) because they are among the most troubled kids in FCPS.

What’s going to happen? Some will be absorbed by the alternative high school (with less staff, so bigger classes, less secure). Some will go back to a base school. Some will just stop showing up.

[Anonymous]

Can someone please explain these programs for the rest of us who aren't familiar with special ed lingo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain these programs for the rest of us who aren't familiar with special ed lingo?

Great suggestion, Please clarify the distinctions between AIMs, ALCs, and the remaining students at the alternative high schools like Bryant and Mountain View.

And then explain why streamlining this so there are fewer such programs, as Reid apparently intends, is a bad idea in your opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain these programs for the rest of us who aren't familiar with special ed lingo?

So first things first, these are not special education programs.

When a kid commits a crime or is disciplined to the level of being sent to the Hearing’s Office and possibly put up for expulsion, they may end up at an ALC, Alternative HS or AIM. AIM is the highest level of restriction and is for kids who commit serious crimes. Sex offenses, weapons and large scale drug distribution.
ALCs and Alt HS serve the same level of offense but ALC serve ages 14-16 (9th and 10th grades) and HS 17-22 year olds.
The purpose was to keep 15 year olds away from 22 year olds.

Streamlining the HS and ALC isn’t a terrible idea. The timing is terrible. They de-staffed people in the last week of school with no decent positions left for them to move into.

AIM requires a certain type of teacher. And they also had De-staffs. Again the timing is a slap in the face to these teachers who have dedicated years to kids who everyone else has turned their backs on.

[Anonymous]

So does this mean they are bringing criminals and thugs back to their base high schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So does this mean they are bringing criminals and thugs back to their base high schools?

Possibly. Or keeping them in places and cutting the staff, this causing grave safety concerns for students and remaining staff.

[Anonymous]

Or maybe it means there are more resources available for those kids who do behave at their base schools than would otherwise be the case.

I'm truly sorry OP lost their job or is close to someone who has been de-staffed, but your complaints should be directed to Reid and the School Board. All you're really doing here is fear-mongering by suggesting other students and staff now need to fear for their safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or maybe it means there are more resources available for those kids who do behave at their base schools than would otherwise be the case.

I'm truly sorry OP lost their job or is close to someone who has been de-staffed, but your complaints should be directed to Reid and the School Board. All you're really doing here is fear-mongering by suggesting other students and staff now need to fear for their safety.

+1

[Anonymous]

I don't know a lot about these schools. I've heard good things from staff at Mountain View. I don't think that all of this is a safety issue. There are some young moms, etc, and things like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain these programs for the rest of us who aren't familiar with special ed lingo?

So first things first, these are not special education programs.

When a kid commits a crime or is disciplined to the level of being sent to the Hearing’s Office and possibly put up for expulsion, they may end up at an ALC, Alternative HS or AIM. AIM is the highest level of restriction and is for kids who commit serious crimes. Sex offenses, weapons and large scale drug distribution.
ALCs and Alt HS serve the same level of offense but ALC serve ages 14-16 (9th and 10th grades) and HS 17-22 year olds.
The purpose was to keep 15 year olds away from 22 year olds.

Streamlining the HS and ALC isn’t a terrible idea. The timing is terrible. They de-staffed people in the last week of school with no decent positions left for them to move into.

AIM requires a certain type of teacher. And they also had De-staffs. Again the timing is a slap in the face to these teachers who have dedicated years to kids who everyone else has turned their backs on.

If these individuals are not suitable to attend schools with the rest of the population they can attend virtual school. Our tax money should not be spent providing special high schools for criminals. They can still get an education, but the costs will be significantly less. These individuals also won’t be making friends with the other criminals in these special programs.

If they don’t care enough to put in the effort to attend online school, that’s on them.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know much about Mountain View except that my kid has a friend that graduated from there. We didn’t know him when he went there but they met later at Nova. He told us he had issues when he was younger, got in some trouble and refused to go to school when he was in HS so he was sent there and they got him through school.

We know him now as a young man with a long term job and attending community college. I’m glad that program existed and he was able to get support to get a HS diploma. It’s too bad it’s shut down and won’t help others.