Burrell’s high school and middle school will be adding another layer to their in-school suspension protocols.

Burrell High School and Charles A. Huston Middle School will establish an Alternative Learning Center this school year that’s located within the school buildings but away from other classrooms, said Carla Roland, assistant high school principal.

Goals of the Alternative Learning Center, Roland said, are to reduce the amount of time students are out of school for disciplinary reasons and to provide an additional layer for them to learn and reflect on their behavior.

“It’s not removing anything we have in place,” Roland said. “We are adding a supportive level.”

Last year, the majority of out-of-school suspensions at Burrell High School were due to vaping, Roland said.

The Alternative Learning Center will provide a space where students can remain in school to complete their schoolwork for the day and take accountability while still facing the consequences of their actions.

Out-of-school suspensions would still be in place for more severe offenses.

“This is an opportunity to learn how your behavior is impacting you and others,” said Greg Egnor, Burrell’s director of student services, during last week’s school board meeting. “It’s what discipline is for; to be in school for the day and learn from your mistake.”

The Alternative Learning Center system is modeled off a similar program in the Norwin School District.

“We lost a lot of instructional time, and we always want our kids with us,” Roland said.

Prevention specialists will be with the students in the Alternative Learning Center. There, students will reflect on their behavior, how it impacted themselves and others and create goals for their work, Roland said.

“They’ll be looking in the student handbook to understand what they did, and what it took away from the progress of our school community,” she said.

A few days after the suspension, the reflection will be shared with the student’s family, Roland said.

“We are fortunate,” she said. “We are a community where the parents want to work with us.”

Roland said she hopes the program can reduce recidivism and increase positive behavior.

“Beyond the compliance,” Roland said, “we want progress.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)