Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Alternative Learning Center - 8/26/1987
Alternative center enrolls 43
by Yvonne Klinnert the school that was started 26 - with 17 unemployed.
"You can't imagine the ap- from scratch, DeLuca said. Twenty-two are from Burns-
preciation we have heard from "The strength of our program ville, 16 are from Eagan, and
the students and the parents for lies with our staff," he said. three are from Savage. One
a second chance,'' Rudy The eyes of the school board, each are trom South St. Paul
DeLuca told the Burnsville- the high school and the com- and Lakeville. They range in
Eagan-Savage Board of Educa- munity will be on the school, he age from 15 to 20, with the ma-
tion Thursday. said, to gauge its success. jority being 17 or 18.
The appreciation is being The students for the school Seven are parents, seven
voiced over the opening of the have been found by the staff have been treated for chemical
Cedar Alternative Learning who have called and written dependency and three are
Center, of which DeLuca is letters to every student who under court supervision. Most
principal. DeLuca and Direc- has withdrawn from the high attended Burnsville High
for Marilyn Morgan reported school. School, but nine other high
the school's progress to the The school's programs need schools are also represented by
board Thursday. to be molded to the needs of the the enrollment, Morgan said.
There are 43 students enroll- students, Morgan said. Many of The students have a wide ar-
ed, and Morgan had appoint- the students need help finding ray of skills and capabilities,
meets with six more potential employment, so work coor- Morgan said. Some are in-
students. It is hoped the school dinator efforts need to be em- terested in attending college or
will have 50 students by the phasized, she said. Students joining the Air Force.
beginning of the year, she said. need help finding child care, "We've seen that they've
The school is for those who and the school is working with been out for awhile and they've
have dropped out of the tradi- Dakota County to help them get seen it's not that great out
tional high school, but wish to financial assistance for child there without a diploma," she
earn a high school diploma. It care, she said. said.
will offer classes and schedules Support groups for those who Board Director John
geared to the needs of the are recovering from chemical Coskran voiced several board
students. dependency are also needed, members' feelings when he
DeLuca described the school, she said. said, "I think it's one of the
which is housed in half of the The school is gaining a wide most exciting things that's hap-
gymnasium and the cafeteria range of students, Morgan pened in the school district
of Cedar Elementary School in said, and showed the board since I've been on the board."
Eagan. The offices are_in the some statistics. They are even- Board members wished the
kitchen. "We have two walk-in ly split between male and staff members well, and asked
coolers we don't know what to female, and most are single, that they be informed regar-
do with," DeLuca said. with two married. ding any needs of the school.
The district can be proud of A majority are employed -