Gwinnett County Public Schools is exploring another layer of alternative school options -- starting at the elementary level -- to get kids through high school.
But the ideas, unveiled during the school board's regular monthly work session Thursday, raised a few questions.
"Moving into an elementary [school] level is sort of scary when you start moving kids that young," board member Louise Radloff said. "But if the issue is serious enough or the behavior is over a short period of time, it may be a necessity.
"I think we're really going to catch a lot of flak," Radloff said. "The issue would have to be really significant."
The recommendation for an elementary alternative school came from a special 22-member task force chiefly made up of elementary school principals. The group visited similar programs in the region to draw up suggestions, said James A. Taylor, executive director for academic support.
The recommendations from the task force are currently under review for possible implementation, Taylor said.
Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said such a program would likely involve a small number of students.
"It's also important that elementary schools be safe," he said. "There are a few students, for whatever reasons, we have to deal with, and we're doing it at this point in time. But as we get larger, and if there are a few more, we feel we need to take a look at it."
Another program under consideration would involve students taking classes online. Taylor said school representatives have made site visits to programs in Cobb and Douglas counties. He said a cost-benefit analysis is currently under way.
The Gwinnett district now operates four alternative schools for some 660 at-risk students. It also offers Project Rescue, a last chance for students on expelled status. Enrollment in Project Rescue stands at 15.
Students age 16 to 20 can participate in a school-sponsored GED program that has a current enrollment of 56 students.
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