Brevard board weighs closing ALC model in favor of school-based diversion, staff say savings possible

District staff presented two options for Brevard Public Schools’ response to serious student disciplinary incidents during a Feb. 11 work session: (1) maintain and strengthen Alternative Learning Centers (ALCs) as five-day placements with enhanced stipulation agreements, or (2) expand a school-based diversion program modeled on the district’s drug‑diversion work, keeping students at their home schools under strict conditions with weekly counseling and possible online curricular placement.

Mr. Raymer, who led the presentation, and Misty Bland, director of alternative sites, described current operations and data for the North Central ALC (Merritt Island) and South ALC (Melbourne), and presented staffing, transportation and budget summaries.

Why it matters: The board must balance student safety and learning needs, staff capacity, transportation impacts and fiscal considerations. Board members generally favored pursuing the diversion option but asked staff to refine offense categorizations, implementation details and supports for principals and school staff.

Summary of current practice and two options

Current operations: District staff said North Central had 18 enrolled students (as of Feb. 13) and South had 91. Elementary-level students attend the ALC five days a week;…