The Alternative School is a necessary educational outlet for our students

The conservation of energy law states that energy cannot be created, nor destroyed, it can only change its form. This is true for students in the Libby public schools.

The alternative school is a response to intervention for students after they have been through interventions at Libby Middle/High School.  

It is usually a last-chance option for students at risk of not graduating for three primary reasons — credit deficiency, low/no academic progress, or behavioral issues.

Central School primarily addresses preparing students to enter the workforce after graduating. 

Work ethics of being on time, on task, having an appropriate attitude, good work quantity and good work quality are stressed. These are the work ethics employers are looking for in their employees.

While at Central School, students are expected to complete volunteer work in the community. Students assist on community projects (such as STOKR) when asked. Students assist with food distribution at the food pantry and the VFW. It is not uncommon for the students to be involved in clean-up projects, shoveling snow, or raking.  

Students paint banners, murals, and signs around town. In tech class, the students rebuild donated computers for distribution to needy families. All these civic projects instill pride in, and contribution to their community.

If a student drops out from Libby public schools, the student doesn’t go away, she/he becomes a part of society.  

Twenty-Five years ago students could drop out of high school, and gain employment at the mine or mill, or join the military. These options no longer exist because of high unemployment rates, and the military no longer accepting individuals without high school diplomas.  

Students need to not only have a high-school diploma, but also the soft skills to obtain and keep a job, and the pride to be contributing, productive members of society.

(Laura McCrohan is an instructor at the Central Alternative School.)