Albert Lea board weighs moving ALC to Southwest campus to secure dedicated administrator

The Albert Lea Public School District board discussed moving its Alternative Learning Center (ALC) to the Southwest campus to ensure a dedicated on-site administrator and greater access to counseling and student supports. Dr. H, presenting the district’s review, said meetings with ALC and Southwest staff and tours of the facilities convinced administrators the move could provide a more stable administrative presence and improved student support.

Dr. H said the district temporarily hired a part‑time administrator for the ALC and has already “seen a difference,” noting the administrator averages about three days a week and that the counselor at the ALC can now focus more on counseling rather than administrative tasks. He described available rooms and office space at Southwest that could house ALC classes and staff, including repurposing a conference room and open classrooms that are becoming available because of declining enrollment there.

Board members asked how the district would keep younger middle‑school students at Southwest separated from older ALC students (some ALC students are described as ages 16–20). Dr. H said the district would rely on staggered schedules, controlled entrances and staff supervision; he acknowledged concerns about younger students being influenced by older peers and noted the staggered dismissal and class schedules were likely to limit unsupervised mixing. He also said the district would preserve online programming management under high‑school staff while locating in‑person ALC services at Southwest.

Members pressed for an assessment plan if the move is approved. Dr. H described proposed evaluation measures including monitoring graduation rates, discipline incidents and whether administrative staffing becomes too thin elsewhere in the district. He said the board would receive a task‑force report on May 20 covering enrollment projections through 2031 and further options.

The presentation also described potential benefits: access to a dean of students and SRO resources, broader social‑work and physical‑education opportunities, and a clearer administrative structure for students who have struggled at the high school but have been successful in the ALC setting.

Next steps: the board heard the report and discussion; no formal vote on relocation occurred during the public meeting. The board is scheduled to receive a task‑force report on May 20, which officials said would include additional enrollment and site recommendations.