Alternative school

The Cape Girardeau School District's alternative school found a permanent home last week, a new 16,681-square-foot, $1.57 million facility.

The center, formerly in the old Schultz school building, is now at 330 N. Spring Ave. It is connected to the district's administrative building. The school has bounced around to five locations in the last 13 years, but it appears to have found a permanent home now.

The alternative school often gets an unfair rap. Many assume the school is full of troublemakers. But many of the students are good kids who for one reason or another cannot succeed in a regular classroom setting but do quite well in a nontraditional class setting.

The new building will have the alternative school's first library as well as updated computer equipment.

Every student needs to be given a chance to learn. The alternative center does that. The investment of money, time and space into the alternative school is a testament to this city and its values.