Alpena News editorial
Last week, News staff writer Crystal Nelson introduced us to one current and one former student of Alternative Choices for Educational Success Academy, Alpena Public Schools’ setting for students who struggled to succeed at Alpena High School.
Both students worried about the district’s proposal to close the ACES building and move those programs into a sequestered area of the traditional high school.
They worried about the loss of identity and pride at ACES as its own entity, about the ability of school officials to truly, fully separate ACES students from the rest and the possibility of trouble therein, and about the lack of some of the flexibility ACES offers, which they said offers kids a chance to fully succeed in high school.
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Crystal Nelson
Kenzie Kolnowski, a junior at Alternative Choices for Educational Success Academy, is pictured with her son, Miles McNeal, Friday at McRae Park in Alpena.
ALPENA Current and former students of Alpena Public Schools’ alternative high school are concerned the program will not be as successful if it’s relocated to Alpena High School this fall.
Samantha Wheeler, who graduated from Alternative Choices for Educational Success Academy in 2009, said relocating the academy is “a horrible idea.”
Wheeler said she bounced between several school districts when she was younger and found high school to be “one big clique.” In high school, she ended up skipping class and had physical fights with other students.
We’ve heard from some residents concerned about Alpena Public Schools officials considering closing and selling the Alternative Choices for Educational Succes
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Crystal Nelson
Alternative Choices for Educational Success Academy, Alpena Public Schools’ alternative school, is pictured on Wednesday on Pinecrest Street.
ALPENA Alpena Public Schools officials are looking for ways to consolidate operations to account for the district’s declining enrollment.
Superintendent Dave Rabbideau told the Board of Education’s Property Committee on Monday district officials are conducting an inventory of district-owned property and are considering the marketability of the Central Office building and Alternative Choices for Educational Success Academy, the district’s alternative high school.
“These are not things that are going to happen in the next week or two or even this school year, but we recognize that we do have two properties that are serving a small number of people and we want to work towards the goal of right sizing the district,” Rabbideau said.
United Way of Northeast Michigan
Last month, Anne Gentry (my daughter) wrote an article, “Couldn’t we all use a Clarence?”, telling the story of the angel named Clarence from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
Clarence helps George Bailey discover how his life has touched so many and to never forget the influence that one life has on so many.
Yes, Anne, we could all use a Clarence and a Dudley.
Dudley, played by Cary Grant, is an angel from the movie “The Bishop’s Wife” who comes in answer to a prayer from Bishop Henry Brougham. Bishop Henry is trying to build a grand cathedral and has lost sight of his wife, family, friends and his values as he has to deal with a stubborn, wealthy widow donor.