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ACES director: Relocation offers options, flexibility

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alternative Choices for Educational Success Academy Director Laura Stibitz, right, talks to science and physical education teacher Erich Schlueter, left, Monday at the school.

ALPENA — Alternative Choices for Educational Success Academy Director Laura Stibitz told the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education on Monday the academy’s relocation to Alpena High School is an “exciting opportunity” for students.

APS officials are planning to relocate ACES Academy to the high school this fall because it’s too expensive to operate the program in its Pinecrest Street location while its enrollment continues to decline.

The plan is to relocate the academy into the high school robotics room and a couple of other nearby rooms that aren’t being used. Students would have access to their own entrance to the program, access to their own restrooms, and lunch will be delivered to the classroom.

Stibitz is optimistic the move is going to be good for students because it will offer more options and flexibility. She also said “it’s good to shake up staff a little bit.”

“We’ve pretty comfortable over here on our island,” she said. “Once you get past the initial shock of, ‘oh, we’re not going to be at ACES,’ and you do that mind shift to what we can really offer and what we can give to kids, it’s going to look really cool.”

Students will have more flexibility in determining what their education looks like. Stibitz said students can choose to only attend ACES Academy classes, can co-enroll in classes at Alpena High School or could choose an option that could include online classes.

Relocating to the high school would eliminate transportation issues for students currently having to commute between schools, she said, and AHS counselors would be available on site to assist students with early college or dual enrollment at Alpena Community College.

Stibitz also outlined the responsibilities students will have as part of the program. Students are required to attend at least one face-to-face session and respond to at least one email or phone call per week. Students who co-enroll or dual enroll must meet the attendance requirements for those courses.

Students are also required to create and post an action plan in Brightspace each week, and attend a second learning lab if they fall behind.

Stibitz said there are also new creative opportunities for students.

There are currently 51 students enrolled in the program for next fall, Stibitz said, although there is a list of students who have expressed interest in the program.

Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said the academy has seen it’s enrollment decreased by 15% in the last 10 years and is currently operating at 13% of capacity. He also said that expenses have exceeded the revenue in the last three years.

Rabbideau noted that staffing has also changed with the declining enrollment — the academy has gone from about nine staff dedicated to the academy during the 2018-2019 school year to six staff this year.

Rabbideau told the board, if Director Stibitz wasn’t on board with the transition, and if they could not provide a better product, district officials would have looked to alternatives.

“Her input has been crucial in this — and her approval,” he said.

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