Homestead to open Spartan Success Center to expand alternative‑education supports

The MSD Southwest Allen County Schools School Board of Trustees heard a plan to rebrand and expand the district’s alternative‑education offerings into the Spartan Success Center to support students with failing grades, attendance problems or anxiety.

Administrators said the center will combine the district’s existing alternative programs — including ALP (alternative learning program) and the Citadel — into a single 6‑through‑12 site with three full‑time teachers (one licensed for middle‑school instruction and two for high school), a guidance counselor and an instructional assistant. Chuck Worth, identified in the meeting as assistant principal at Homestead High School, said the program will cap class sizes at 15 students and can serve about 60 students when operating morning and afternoon cohorts.

The program is designed for two main placement types: an alternative‑to‑expulsion track and an intervention placement for students who have exhausted in‑school options. Worth described a typical alternative‑to‑expulsion placement as a half‑day on site at the Spartan Success Center combined with a Part B activity — such as continued credit recovery, community service or job placement — determined with parents. High‑school placements will generally run a semester to protect course credit continuity.

The center’s instructional model will pair a blended curriculum (including Edmentum and other online providers) with active teacher support. Worth said teachers will “move around” the learning space, guiding students rather than leaving them alone on a screen. One staff member will hold a special‑education license to deliver individualized services; the district also plans to partner with Crosswinds to provide on‑site social‑emotional supports a few days per week.

Administrators emphasized onboarding and coordination: each student placed at the center will have an onboarding meeting that includes the Spartan Success Center guidance counselor, the student’s regular guidance counselor and, for special‑education students, a case conference. The stated objective is to create a collaborative, monitored plan with weekly progress goals so students can return to the traditional setting when ready. "We're really trying to meet students where they're at and get them on a win streak," Worth said.

Board members and other administrators framed the center as a preventive and restorative tool rather than permanent separation from Homestead. Susan Summers, a Homestead presenter, and another speaker who identified themselves during the meeting praised the work that prepared the plan, noting site visits and collaborative planning with other districts.

No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational and the board discussed staffing needs, scheduling and how to measure student progress going forward.

The district said next steps include finalizing staffing, continuing community and parent engagement and refining placement protocols before opening the center.