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(Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli) Saving a school CrossRoads School for troubled or expelled students to remain open despite leadership, pupil exodus By Paris Achen Mail Tribune Despite the coming loss of its principal and probably half of its student body, CrossRoads School — destination for many of Jackson County's expelled and troubled secondary pupils — is expected to remain open for at least one more year, the school's nonprofit operator said. On Tuesday, the Central Point School Board hired CrossRoads Principal Mark Wolfe to head one of four small schools being established at Crater High through the Oregon Small Schools Initiative. Central Point district officials who supply half of CrossRoads' students said they plan to reclaim some, if not all, of their pupils from the alternative school, explaining that the small schools are expected to meet the students' needs for more personalized attention. Such a move would cut CrossRoads' budget in half, Wolfe said. But officials with Community Works, the nonprofit group that operates CrossRoads, said the school will still have its niche in the community, at least for now. "We are committed to making a go of it," said Arnie Green, Community Works executive director. Advertisement The school, now serving more than 90 pupils in sixth through 12th grades, likely will increase its focus on drug, alcohol and mental health counseling, services local school districts don't offer, Green said. Possibilities for extra funding include grants and insurance billing for counseling services. Depending on next year's enrollment, Community Works might replace Wolfe or hire a manager rather than a certified administrator, which is more costly. An exact plan for new leadership and structure has not yet been determined, Green said. Since enrollment became the main factor for funding public schools, the number of students at CrossRoads has declined, as school districts have sought more ways to keep pupils on campus. Medford, Eagle Point and Phoenix-Talent opened alternative schools, which pulled potential students away from CrossRoads. "We've had plenty of time to see the handwriting on the wall, and CrossRoads is becoming the alternative school for alternative schools," Green said. The small schools initiative is also expected to take a toll on the alternative school's enrollment. The initiative seeks to enhance student performance and graduation by creating a personalized environment in which students feel connected with teachers and peers. Teachers collaborate to share best instructional practices and monitor pupils' progress across subject matter. The idea of the movement, which is sweeping the nation, is that small schools' close-knit environments will reduce the need for alternative schools. But school districts such as Medford, the county's largest, said they will continue to send pupils to CrossRoads. "We have never had a problem of not having enough kids to go there," said Doug Jantzi, Medford secondary education director. "The idea of a day treatment center is very attractive, as long as it's affordable." Phoenix High Principal Jani Hale, who also is a Community Works board member, said, "With budget cuts school districts are hard-pressed to hire a drug and alcohol counselor." Some CrossRoads students said they would resist a transfer back to Crater. "A lot of students said they're not going back to Crater," said CrossRoads student Amanda Wilson, 18. She said she doesn't foresee small schools offering as much one-on-one attention as CrossRoads because teachers will still have large class sizes. Cody Thayer, 16, left Crater two years ago to attend CrossRoads after losing extensive credit for chronic absences. "I don't like big schools," Cody said. One thousand five hundred students is "a little too much. I didn't want to go to school." The staff at CrossRoads, particularly with the encouragement of Wolfe, gave him the resolve to go to class and head toward graduation. "He is one of the best principals I've met in my entire life," Cody said. He said he hopes to remain at CrossRoads, but if he does go to Crater, he'll likely try to enroll in Wolfe's small school. CrossRoads registrar Kathy Peterson said during the past 15 years, upheavals at CrossRoads have raised questions about the school's possible closure at least three times. "I don't think CrossRoads will ever disappear," Peterson said. "Unfortunately, there will always be students who are expelled or have severe issues that require them to be off a mainstream campus. "Each time the school is shaken it seems to go through a transformation that has made us better." Reach reporter Paris Achen at 541-776-4459 or [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. 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