Alternative high school on hold

Plans to establish the Washington Youth Academy at Geiger Field didn’t make it off the ground this legislative session.

Financing for the proposed academy would have included $690,000 of the state’s general fund money as well as $3 million in capital funds and $1.3 million in federal money.

The state Senate and House budgets failed to fund the proposed alternative high school where 16- to 18-year-old high school dropouts would be given a second chance to improve their education, life skills and employment potential.

Students would attend a 22-week residential session followed by a 12-month mentoring period.

“We remain optimistic and committed,” said retired Col. Curt Pintler, program director. “We have the governor’s support to include the WYA in the 2007-09 budget that we will be preparing this summer.

“We will continue to work with OFM (Office of Financial Management), OSPI (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction), the State Board of Education and other stakeholders in anticipation of presenting our proposal to the 2007 Legislature,” Pintler said.

The proposed academy would be a highly regimented, fully accredited alternative high school, with academically credentialed staff run by the Washington Military Department.

The program would have contracted with state-certified teachers from the Cheney School District to provide academic instruction in math, science, social science and computer science.

The military staff would provide training, discipline and supervision of the student population.

The state-owned Air National Guard base facility at Geiger Field, which is on the other side of the main runway from the Spokane International Airport passenger terminal, was the only site being considered, Pintler said.

Twenty-five states currently offer the National Guard Youth Challenge Program to at-risk teens.