WBCSD closes PREP

PRIEST RIVER — There are many reasons students might choose an alternative high school, from being homeless to simply not fitting in at a traditional school.

Since 2000, Priest River students who fit into one of those, or one of many other categories, have found success through the Priest River Education Program. Falling enrollment numbers, however, forced West Bonner County School District officials to recommend closing the school. In a 3-1 vote last week with one abstention, the closing of the school became official.

WBCSD Superintendent Paul Anselmo said the projected enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year was seven students. It takes 14 and a half students, he said, to drive the funding unit for the PREP school. Anselmo said the district looked at other options to save money, such as moving to half-day kindergarten, but ultimately the closure of the school was the recommendation.

"It’s a hard decision, but when you look at the impact, it seemed to affect the least amount people.

Lynn Bridges, lead counselor and assistant homeless liaison for the district, pleaded her case before the school board, noting that the students enrolled in PREP are "often" on a homeless roster. 

"These are students who have either left home or been turned out of their homes for a variety of reasons," Bridges said. "... It is difficult to obtain graduation when you are concerned about where your next meal will come from or where it is that you will be sleeping."

Bridges recommended revamping the program to try and increase enrollment and "more successfully" target the needs of students.

Anselmo said the decrease in enrollment is a recent trend at alternative high schools as more online options are available to students. In addition to online options, Anselmo said Priest River Lamanna High School offers a credit recovery program as an option for students who need to make up credits.

WBCSD Trustee Margaret Hall expressed concern over closing the school and the possibility of doing a "disservice" to the kids by closing the school.

"Unfortunately, I don't know that there is a guarantee that we are not doing them a disservice," said board chair Sandy Brower. "We probably are. But when it comes to being fiscally responsible, we would running a school that we would be paying for out of contingency or something else, because ... we don't have enough students to generate funding for it."

It was after a hesitant motion by Samuel "Ranger Rick" Hall, and a hesitant seconding of the motion by Bruce Hollett, that the PREP school closure became official in the end. Trustee Drew McLain was the sole vote against the closure of the school, while Hall abstained.

The PREP school staff was made up of paraprofessional Jennifer Naccarato, who has since retired, and English teacher Liz Cork, who was offered another job within the district, Anselmo said. Priest River Junior High Principal Leoni Johnson also served as the principal of PREP. Anselmo said the decision to close the school was not a reflection on the staff.

"They have done a great job there, helping kids, creating opportunities for kids — that was never the issue," Anselmo said. "... We do appreciate all the hard work they did. It’s not an easy decision, but one we felt like was probably the best interest of the district at this time."

Prior to the opening of the PREP school in 2000, Priest River students were bused to Lake Pend Oreille High School in Sandpoint if they chose to go to an alternative school. The Bonner County School District was split into two districts in July 1999, culminating in the creation of the PREP school. The alternative school offered a local option for students that offers individualized instruction and small group classes.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.