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District outlines alternative-education placement to keep expelled students engaged in coursework
Summary
Administrators presented a proposal to run a district-staffed alternative-education placement at a county facility to serve expelled or removed students, focusing on coursework, special-education compliance and behavioral supports.
Garden City Public Schools administrators described a proposed District Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) aimed at keeping students removed from their regular school engaged with curriculum and supports.
What was presented: Deputy Superintendent Josh Geiman and Principal Lucas Sullivan said the district is exploring a program at a Finney County facility west of the juvenile detention center. They proposed two three-hour daily sessions — a morning session aimed at roughly fifth through eighth graders and an afternoon session for ninth through twelfth graders — with a planned capacity of 10 students per session (20 total). The proposal favors on-site staffing by a district teacher with special-education credentials or a special-education para, with an additional adult to allow teacher breaks.
Why the district proposed it: Presenters said the option would let students continue to make academic progress while removed from the regular setting, preserve special-education services, and reduce the risk of students falling further behind or dropping out. Administrators noted the program could allow the hearing officer to recommend a short-term alternative placement instead of a long-term expulsion.
Curriculum and partnerships: Students would work on core reading and math through the district's existing Ingenuity/Edgenuity virtual platform supplemented by an intervention (IP) course designed for ISS/alternative-ed students. The district plans to coordinate behavioral and mental-health services with Finney County Youth Services and Compass and is exploring a mental-health assistant on site.
Costs and staffing: District presenters said the plan requires reallocation of an existing teacher and para rather than additional full-time positions; they described the staffing impact as neutral on district FTE and cost in initial stages. The district expects some costs for school-issued desktops and internet access at the facility and plans to pursue reuse of existing technology where possible.
Logistics and limits: Officials cautioned transportation will be complicated because expelled students may be spread across town and may have trespass orders that prevent use of regular buses. The district will work on an MOU with the Finney County facility and other county partners to define access and safety protocols.
Next steps: Administrators said they will continue to work on staffing details, technology access, and an MOU with the county; no final board action on the program was recorded in the meeting.
