The Trenton Times published the following article on February 25, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
Trenton school board votes to shut alternative middle school
By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton
on February 25, 2014 at 11:01 PM, updated February 25, 2014 at 11:12 PMTRENTON — The city school board voted to shut the district’s alternative middle school program five months after it was revamped and reopened.
The board’s unanimous voted followed the recommendation of Superintendent Francisco Duran, who said although the program was funded and staffed for 80 students, there were not nearly that number enrolled or recommended for the program.
“The number just did not warrant the budget,” he said.
Duran previously estimated that closing the program would save the district $1.5 million between the end of February and June.
The program opened in September, replacing the Rivera Learning Community. Harrison was meant to be a place for students with behavioral and emotional problems to get the special attention they need in smaller classes. Duran has said Rivera, which opened in 2011 as an alternative middle school, was unsuccessful because a number of the 100 enrolled students did not need alternative education, but rather were special education students or overflow from crowded schools.