Staff Writer

ONEONTA — One or two board members should sit on a committee to determine the city school district's alternative education needs, the Board of Education decided Wednesday night.

A variety of educators, parents and community members attended the 7 p.m. meeting at Center Street Elementary School to listen to the board's planned discussion of an alternative high school, first proposed by Oneonta High School Principal Scott Rabeler last spring.

Non-traditional students are now bused to a BOCES Upward Bound site in Milford, and when Rabeler proposed otherwise, several parents protested.

At Wednesday night's meeting, board members said they are determining whether a local program is necessary.

Rabeler said having a local program would increase the number of graduates.

"Where these students are now, they are dropping out," he said.

Kate O'Donnell, a sociology professor at Hartwick College, told board members the college could help develop a program, and Gary Koutnik, psychologist at Oneonta Middle School, said a task force has been working for several years to develop a viable program.

Board members said they have to determine why, and if, a local program is needed before developing a plan.

Board member Grace Larkin suggested visiting BOCES and schools with successful programs. Superintendent James Piscitelli recommended a board member or two work with the task force.

"There are a lot of folks out there working," he said. "Engage them with you as the Board of Education."

Board President Ben Friedell said he will assign members to the committee.

Also at the meeting:

Karen Rowe, who has a son in the middle school, told the board she wants the doors to the bathroom stalls in the boys' bathroom put back on.

The doors were removed several weeks ago after a series of four threats against the school were written on the doors, Piscitelli said.

Rowe said, "I would like to say for the record I strongly oppose that, and I would like (the doors) to go back on immediately."

Piscitelli said one of the note-writers has been caught, and the doors will be put back on "eventually." He said he hasn't yet discussed when with Principal Martha Forgiano.

The student has been disciplined, he said.

Meanwhile, he said, there is a private bathroom in the school nurse's office that students can use.

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Carolyn Norton can be reached at cnorton@thedailystar.com or (607) 441-7218.