Kalispell Public Schools’ vision for alternative education was redefined in the fall when Bridge Academy and Laser Alternative High School merged.

“The first day of August we hit the ground running as Linderman Education Center,” Director Jodi Barber said.

Barber, who previously was director and counselor at Bridge, said the timing was right for revising plans, policies and attendance requirements. There were concerns that students were more focused on putting in the required hours until graduation and less about their personal academic progress.

At Bridge and Laser, there were minimum requirements of hours or weeks students had to attend school.

That focus has since shifted.

“What we wanted to do is get rid of that time requirement because what was happening is students were focused more on, ‘Oh, I have my 10 hours in, not necessarily how far I’ve progressed in the class.’ We wanted to have more academic accountability,” Barber said, adding that students create goals for each class.

What was important to retain was the flexibility for a population where students come from many backgrounds.

“We have kids wanting to do something more independent or wanting to do something self-paced, maybe they have that social anxiety or school phobia,” Barber said. “We have the kids who have still earned their way out of Glacier or Flathead, whether it’s attendance — they didn’t attend there or didn’t make good choices. We have students here who are parents or going to be parents, and students who work full-time jobs.

“What we are really trying to do here is to create a school that is built around the students. It’s important, though, they maintain the academic expectations that we have,” Barber said.

Students may now attend morning, afternoon or evening sessions. They also have the option to attend traditional school hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each class period is 45 minutes.

The new program is a combination of components from Bridge and Laser.  

“It’s pretty ingrained in the community and school culture. We didn’t want to create something completely different. We wanted to honor both,” Barber said.

There was an adjustment period for students who either attended Bridge and took self-paced online courses or Laser’s traditional textbook-based classes.

In the new program, however, students can take a combination of online and offline classes.

Gregg Letourneau, former director of Laser, is back in the classroom teaching math full time, which he enjoys.

“Each program was successful in its own right, but together, the new LEC gives students greater opportunity in their schedules, available courses — textbook or computer — and the opportunity for a 20- or 22-credit diploma,” Letourneau said. “Our vision is to help each individual student achieve their goal of a high school diploma while meeting their needs and providing an atmosphere that will make them successful.”

On a recent Friday, 17-year-old Nicole Bolster was absorbed in solving algebra II problems from a workbook.

Bolster formerly attended Laser because Bridge had a waiting list at the time she enrolled. She now takes a combination of computer-based and textbook-based classes.

When the new program started, Bolster said, some students were nervous about what to expect or if the program would work out. After learning new rules and expectations, Bolster said the program has improved.

“I like it a lot. We have freedom to choose online classes and textbook classes and decide what works better for us. Each class is different,” Bolster said.

Linderman Education Center will also offer the HiSET Options Program to students who are significantly deficient in credits to graduate on time with their class. The goal is to retain students who would otherwise drop out.

In January the HiSET, a new high school equivalency test, replaces the GED. Eligible students will create contracts that include academic, behavior and attendance requirements. If they fulfill the requirements, they are able to waive up to eight core curriculum credits and earn a 20-credit general diploma.

Linderman Education Center already has 30 students on a waiting list, but the program is not an easy street to a diploma, Barber said.

“You have to be self-motivated, self-paced. There is accountability and responsibility in the program. I really consider it a privilege to be here because there are so many options, so many different choices. I tell them, ‘You have to work to keep your spot because we do have a waiting list.’ If you’re not going to attend or perform academically, I have someone to take your spot.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.