Abe Lincoln Academy Opens for Expulsion Suspension at Risk Students in Lincoln and Logan County

 

[August 15, 2023] 

This school year, Lincoln will open an alternative school in one section of the Dugan Center on 1500 N. McLean Street.

Over the years, this building has had various uses. At one point, it housed Abe Lincoln Elementary School. Later, it was the site for the New Wine School and Little Lambs Day Care, so having a school there again brings everything full circle.

Kent Froebe, Superintendent of Lincoln Elementary School District #27 said the Logan County Superintendents approached Regional Superintendent, Mark Jontry this past spring about the possibility of starting a satellite location for a Regional Alternative School in Lincoln. Jontry was very receptive of the idea.

Between 1997 and 2019, many area students who needed an alternative learning environment went to Salt Creek Academy in Fancy Prairie. The school closed in 2019 and since then, area students have had to go to schools in either Springfield or Bloomington.

All Logan County School Districts along with Clinton in Dewitt County will be charter members of the new school, which will be called Abe Lincoln Academy. Froebe said Lincoln Elementary School District #27 will be the managing district and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the new school and Del Sutter will be the program director.

The school district charter members include Chester-East Lincoln Community Consolidated School District #61, Clinton Community Unit School District #15, Hartsburg-Emden Community Unit School District #21, Lincoln Community High School District #404, Lincoln Elementary School District #27, Mt. Pulaski Community Unit School District #23, New Holland-Middletown Elementary School District #88 and West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School District #92. Sutter says the academy would consider taking students from other districts as space allows.

The purpose of the Abe Lincoln Academy will be to serve expulsion/suspension eligible students between grades sixth through twelfth by providing an alternative learning environment.

The goal is to provide a safe, structured and caring environment for the struggling students in Logan County with the main goal of promoting academic success and to fostering a positive outlook for the future.

Froebe said the school will open Wednesday, August 16.

The Academy will follow District #27 school calendar.

Left to right John Jensen, Del Sutter, Kent Froebe
and Kevin Curry

Abe Lincoln Academy will have two teachers and one Director as they start the year. As the enrollment grows, Froebe said they will look to hire more faculty & staff.

Given the current space being rented and the number of staff, Froebe said they would be able to have between 15-20 students.

When the school opens, the staff to student ratio will be around 2:1. Froebe said the ratio will change as the school year progresses.

Del Sutter will be the director of the program, coming in with many years of experience, having served as the director of Salt Creek Academy for 22 years.

Joining Sutter will be teacher John Jensen who taught at Salt Creek Academy for 11 years. Jensen‘s background focuses on the areas of social sciences and education.

The part time teacher will be Kevin Curry, who is currently studying for a degree in education at Grand Canyon University. Curry will teach at the school Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Superintendent Froebe said, “we are very excited to offer this Academy for students who are struggling in their current school environment. We are equally excited to have hired Del Sutter as our new Director. Sutter spent over 20 years as a teacher and Director at Salt Creek Academy, a former alternative school in Fancy Prairie.”

One of the advantages the school will have is smaller classes, according to Sutter, allowing for more one-on-one assistance. Students will work at their own pace and receive credit as the courses are completed.

Sutter said that they will emphasize regular attendance, grade advancement and recovery of course credits. Students will be utilizing online learning tools or using traditional learning methods, with the decision being based on the students’ learning style.

Along with that curriculum, Sutter said they will be offering Imagine Learning, an online language and literacy program formerly called Edginuity.

The school curriculum will include basic classes in English, Math, Science, Social Science, Computer Education and Technology, Health and P.E. Sutter said there will also be a focus on learning life skills, social skills, communication skills and understanding career options.

Once students complete the program, they will receive diplomas from their home school, rather than a GED, according to Sutter. This school will give struggling students a helping hand for their future.

[Angela Reiners]