MEAD, Wash — Parents in the Mead School District say they are frustrated after learning the M.E.A.D Alternative school will close.
The district announced plans to shut down the school Tuesday. According to the resolution, the district will make cuts in 43 different areas to make up the difference in a $12 million deficit. The cuts include the closure of Riverpoint Academy and M.E.A.D Program, which will save the district $1.6 million.
M.E.A.D Alternative School offers a community based, non-traditional learning environment for students who cannot attend traditional high schools.
Heather Hulett has a junior who is enrolled in the M.E.A.D Alternative Program. She said he struggled in traditional high schools.
"He hated school. It was a fight every single day. He gets distracted easily. He doesn't follow along with the class. He’s always behind. He's embarrassed to ask questions,” Hulett said.
During his sophomore year he transferred to the alternative school and is now on track to graduate.
Hulett said her other children are doing well at Mt. Spokane High School, but she is concerned that setting does not work for every student.
Tracy Marbach has a daughter at the alternative school. The sophomore suffers from extreme anxiety and migraines.
"Walking into the main high school was an extremely terrifying experience for her. Just to know that your child is miserable and there's nothing that you can do,” Marbach said.
Marbach enrolled her daughter into the alternative school and saw a change.
"The little girl that I had is back again. She's functioning. She's not having the amount of anxiety she was having,” Marbach said.
Marbach fears her daughter's progress will stop now that the alternative school is set to close its doors.
"I was angry. I was frustrated. I don't know what her next step will be. I am terrified to put her in the main high school. I don't know what that will do to her,” said Marbach.
Some options parents have discussed include homeschool, attending the two other high schools in the district, or moving to another district with non-traditional education programs.
“It frustrating for me. I pay a lot in taxes and we are always like 'yes for the kids, yes for the kids', had I'd known it's only ‘yes for certain kids’. I think it’s a disservice,” Hulett said.