A truancy academy that works with potential dropouts is helping students stay in school and graduate, an official told the Berrien County Board of Trustees' administration committee Thursday.The academy, operated by Berrien Springs Public Schools and the Family Division of Berrien County Trial Court, is to remain open for the 2011-12 school year.
The academy provides classroom instruction for about 20 children ages 12-14 each semester.
The school also works with kids in other areas, among them conflict resolution skills and appropriate social behavior, said Julie Weber, who coordinates the program.
"Our goal is to address, for one semester, the issues that can stand in the way of acceptable attendance," Weber said.
Weber works for Berrien Springs schools, which took over the program last year after the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency ended its involvement.
The truancy academy serves all 13 school districts in the county, although three do not participate, she said.
In operation since 2000, the academy uses a building provided by the county on Dean's Hill Road in Berrien Township. The budget for the current school year is about $160,000, said Ellen Hasse, business manager for Berrien Springs schools.
www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2011/05/22/local_news/4849712.txt
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