Board OKs pact with alternative education provider

April 14, 2006

BY PAT LITOWITZ
PLITOWITZ@NCNEWSONLINE.COM

State mandates and cost savings are two reasons the New Castle Area School District outsources its alternative education program.


However, one school board member wants more time to examine what Cray Youth and Family Services offers to the district. Philip Conti also wonders if the district could do a better job itself.


During its regular session Wednesday, the school board voted 5-1-1 to enter into an agreement with Cray for the next school year. Conti voted against the measure, while Allan Joseph, a Cray program director, abstained. Mark Kirkwood and Donna Donati were absent.


"It's working well for our district," said Nick DeRosa, the district's assistant superintendent. "Everyone in Lawrence County uses that program.


"The cost to me is good, not expensive, and they're state certified."


Cray, a nonprofit organization, gears its efforts toward at-risk youth. The contract with the district costs $152,150.40, which guarantees the district 18 spots. The district pays approximately $47 per day for each student.


"Our teachers are trained to work with at-risk youths and that makes a difference," said Don Kemerer, director of Cray's alternative education program. "I'm not trying to say that's a knock against public schoolteachers.


"These kids were not being effective students in the public schools. So that's why we have to do things different."


Conti said he isn't against the services that Cray provides. Instead, he references a state department of education report that suggested the district run its own alternative education program in an effort to cut costs.


Conti asked the board to hold off voting on the contract. He was rebuffed in his efforts.


"My motion wasn't to deny the contract," he said. "It was to postpone it until the next regularly scheduled meeting until I could comfortably vote for it and to check out what the state said.


"Maybe the Cray Foundation is the best way to go. Since they didn't give me an opportunity to look at the state's report, I voted no. And there are other alternatives than the Cray Foundation that need to be looked into."


DeRosa said that costs factors play to Cray's advantage. He said to have the district oversee the program the start-up costs would be more than $250,000 plus administrative and building costs.


There is also the issue of teacher certification. State guidelines dictate that an alternative education instructor must have specialized certification.


"When I started it, I did it in house because I could have a teacher with any certification," DeRosa said.


He also noted that costs to the district will be offset by a $30,000 grant that he obtained.


Kemerer said that the average daily cost for alternative education is $78.20. Cray offers its services at $46.96 a day.


Kemerer said that he negotiated the contract with the district's superintendent, business manager and solicitor. He said that Joseph had no role in the talks.


During its existence, Cray has 500 graduates.


We try to get the kids excited about school again," Kemerer said. "It helps all the county schools improve their dropout rate."