SCHOOLS CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

JACKSON -- The Jackson School District might have found an alternative to its suspension problems at the junior high and middle schools -- an alternative education program.

At a meeting Tuesday night, the Board of Education discussed developing an alternative program for at-risk students that might eliminate in-school suspensions.

Rather than offer in-school suspensions, the program would offer extra help to students who have fallen behind in class work, said assistant superintendent Fred Jones.

"It's a structured environment but in a focused area where they can work on their courses," he said.

The program would offer an alternative to suspensions since many in-school suspensions are caused by minor problems that build up over time, Jones said.

"The bottom line is that we want to help the students," said Vicky McDowell, a board member.

And to help its future students, the board hopes to ease district growing pains with a new elementary and math/science building for the high school.

The school board unanimously hired L.J. Hart & Co. Tuesday night as a financial adviser and underwriter for an upcoming bond issue. Gilmore & Bell also was hired to serve as bond counsel for the district.

By the end of May, the board hopes to present a bond proposal for a new elementary building and a high school science and math building. The final cost of the project has not been revealed, although tentative building designs have.

Hart has done several bond projects in the area and worked with the board on prior bond issues, said Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones. "He will provide the data we need to make the decisions that are coming."

Much of the $150,000 cost for the initial work will be reimbursed through the state, Jones said.

Saving money for the district's employee is one benefit of a new insurance plan. The board selected Massachusetts Mutual as its carrier for the 1996-97 year.

The benefit plan quote was only 3 percent higher than actual medical claims for the last 12 months, said Fred Armstrong, a consultant hired to study the district's insurance plan.

Employees with family coverage will save about $50 a year with the new plan, he added.