The Baldwin County Public Schools Board of Education will consider approval of further discussions regarding the expansion of AltaPointe day school services by establishing a new program at the current Loxley Elementary School.
The school system is building a new Loxley Elementary School and, if approved at a later date, would use the old building to house the new program, modeled after AltaPointe's West Mobile Academy.
Superintendent Eddie Tyler said the program expansion is needed because AltaPointe administrators and teachers are asking for help dealing with mental health issues.
"This is a prime time for somebody to step up and help us, help parents, help the kids," said Tyler.
Tyler said there is no contract, and he is asking for permission to continue talks with AltaPointe about moving forward with a school.
AltaPointe made a presentation to the board on Tuesday.
AltaPointe CEO Tuerk Schlesinger presented basic information about the program. AltaPointe is one of 19 public community health centers in Alabama with state authority to assess mental health needs. They are held accountable by the Alabama Department of Mental Health and have oversight by the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
Jarrett Crum, AltaPointe's chief hospital officer, who serves as the hospital administrator for both Baypointe Hospital and EastPointe Hospital, said he is proud of the program. He said after the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a spike in mental health-related issues, specifically with children. That is when they identified a growing need in Baldwin County.
"This collaboration, I believe, really started out with just communication with the administration," said Crum.
The existing day program in Fairhope has slots for 30 children, but Crum said that the program is not geared towards helping children with more significant behavioral disturbances.
"I really feel like, really the goal here is to expand upon the intensive day treatment services to the students that are in need," Crum explained. "How do we take the current model that's in place and grow that and develop to meet the increasing demand here in Baldwin County?"
Crum said the school would benefit students who are not performing well in their current classroom setting and would also benefit other students who are impacted by disturbances. He said the goal is to help the students reintegrate into their school setting.
Nicholette Harvey, BayPointe Hospital and residential administrator, said West Mobile Academy served 242 students last year.
While some parents in Baldwin County are concerned students could be referred to the school involuntarily, Harvey said the goal is to provide voluntary services to parents.
"By the time we get the referral for a child to come into a day treatment with education program, the parents have exhausted all of their outlets," said Harvey. "They're on the brink of losing their job, they're frustrated, they're overwhelmed, they can't have one more call from the school, from the administrator to come up and pick up their child because of behaviors."
Debra Outlaw, an academic facilitator, said children must exhibit at least five behaviors from a list of 22. Students would not have to have an IEP to be referred.
"So, what we're looking for is, you know, they're doing things like physical aggression, verbal aggression, and I'm not saying just a curse word here or there. We're talking about children who are literally throwing desks across classrooms," Outlaw said. "Very defiant behaviors, poor school performance, not participating, truancy. So, there are a number of criteria that children have to meet to be able to come into our program."
Parents must consent to the program and consent to specific services throughout the school year.
If parents initially decline the program, AltaPointe provides additional information and offers parents the opportunity to take a tour.
Outlaw presented data showing that 90% of students successfully left the West Mobile program last year. After returning to the classroom, 84% demonstrated academic gains in math, and 86% showed academic gains in reading. As a general rule, AltaPointe says students are in the program for a year. However, there can be extensions.
BOE member Ken Bradley had several questions about how the facility would be set up and managed. Tyler said that decisions still need to be made, which is why he wants permission to move forward.
Bradley asked why AltaPointe isn't building a facility.
"Y'all were $86 million in the black last year from what I could see," Bradley said. "So, why are y'all not building facilities?"
Schlesinger stated that AltaPointe is a public nonprofit and denied having such a significant profit.
"We're not in anything to make money," he said. "We are in it to make positive decisions for treating people in the communities."
Schlesinger invited board members to tour the facility and review financials.
In Mobile, Mobile County funds services, along with Medicaid, for some services.
Concerned citizens in Baldwin County requested that the school board table the vote until more information could be obtained. Despite the pleas, the measure was put on the agenda for the regular meeting.
BOE member Cecil Christenberry said his only regret is not dealing with this issue sooner.
"Considering the crisis that we're dealing with, I wish this was on our agenda for Thursday night," he said. "It's good to talk and it's good, these are great questions, but I'm ready to move with this. I'm ready to serve our parents and our children."
Tyler thanked the board for questions but spoke to them about the "trust factor."
"For some reason, I see a breakdown of the trust factor," Tyler said. "I don't know why. I don't know where that's occurred. I have my ideas. I mean, you need to trust us more than you trust the keyboard warriors out there."
Tyler said he was the one with the best interest of the school and employees.
AltaPointe was established in Mobile in 1957 and now operates two psychiatric hospitals, residential group homes, foster homes, independent living homes, and various outpatient facilities that provide mental health, substance use, developmental disabilities, and primary care services.
AltaPointe made national headlines in 2023 after a Mobile County Circuit Court jury reached a $7 million verdict in a civil case concerning the rape of a patient at BayPointe Children's Psychiatric Hospital. The hospital and the school are separate entities within AltaPointe. Officials stated that the day school would not require overnight care or need to be approved by the Certificate of Need Board, as it is not a hospital or clinic.
The board meeting will be on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Bay Minette.
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