Alternative school coming to an end after 10 years

At one time, Kayla Boyadjian didn't think she'd graduate from high school. She got a second chance at Leelanau Peninsula High School, and now she’s a part of the alternative school’s final graduation class.

Final LPHS class

“I finished up a lot of work, and it was cool to have this establishment where I could do that,” said Boyadjian. The 19-year-old Cedar native is thankful for LPHS. "It's just unfortunate it's closing.”

The closing of LPHS was announced earlier this year after the boards of education at Suttons Bay and Glen Lake voted to send their “alternative” education students to Traverse City High School. The school, like LPHS, offers alternative education for students who have difficulty learning in a traditional school setting.

Officials at the Traverse City Area Intermediate School District cited several issues that led to the closing, including the federal No Child left Behind Act that requires all teachers be “highly qualified” to teach the subject in which they are instructing. LPHS was unable to meet that requirement.

Most students who attend LPHS found themselves unsuccessful in their public school learning environment, but say the alternative school gave them a place where they can feel safe and start over.

“I dropped out for four months and then came to school here. This was a second-chance opportunity,” said Billy Peplinski, who’s been attending the school for only a few months. He agreed that he probably wouldn’t have graduated from his original school, Glen Lake, where he said he struggled trying to fit in.

With LPHS closing, students from Leelanau County who aren’t graduating are facing a decision. Traverse City High School, based at the former East Bay Elementary, is opening its doors to LPHS students but one factor working against enrolling there is the commuting challenge. The school is located on the east side of Traverse City, more than 20 miles away for most Leelanau students. However, students said the location is near the Career Tech Center that is popular with many alternative students.

Elliot Allchin, who’s also graduating this month, agrees that it will be difficult for the LPHS underclassmen.

“All these kids can’t make it out to the other school, it’s too far away,” he said. He commuted to the Lake Leelanau school and to work, and he understands that other students may not have a car or other transportation to get them where they need to go. With rising gas prices, students may not have the money to afford the commute.

Other LPHS students, like junior Hannah Barr, are making the choice to return to their original school. She will attend Glen Lake in the fall.

“It’s good that I’m graduating from Glen Lake next year. It will look good on my transcript,” said Barr. However, she also said she struggled before, and hopes that is behind her. “I don’t really function properly in a public school,” she said.

Another blow to LPHS was the loss Diana Trimberger, who was its director since the school’s inception 10 years ago. Last fall, after suffering a series of seizures, Trimberger was forced to retire from her position earlier than expected. She has since recovered, but will not return to work.

Trimberger worked with Bob MacEacheran, former Suttons Bay superintendent, to found the alternative school.

“We built enough time to listen and connect with students,” Trimberger said of LPHS. “They needed that because they might have issues that aren’t being addressed which might be affecting their education. We helped them work through those issues.”

Trimberger said the school’s closing will be sad.

“My concern is for a few years down the road,” she said. “With federal regulations some kids in traditional schools are going to feel like they can’t make it. Pulling it back together can be a monumental task.”

Meanwhile, Allchin has been accepted into a college and has enrolled in fall classes, and Peplinski plans on working for a few years before he attends a trade school to study marine technology. Boyadjian also plans on attending school for journalism or psychology.

Graduation services for Leelanau Peninsula High School students will be held at the Suttons Bay school auditorium tonight, May 31, at 7 p.m.