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District 211 might handle worst behavior on its own

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 may start its own alternative school program for students otherwise eligible for expulsion in response to the anticipated downsizing of the outside agency it's been using.

The estimated $600,000 annual cost of such an in-house program is the lowest of three identified options to serve the approximately 20 to 25 students per year who engage in severe disobedience or misconduct.

The other two options involve transporting these students to Des Plaines, site of the nearest campus of the North Cook Young Adult Academy the district's been using for the past 20 years. The academy will stop using the Palatine building it's been leasing from District 211 at the end of this school year.

The first of these options would involve acquiring five more buses and drivers for the daily trips to Des Plaines. This option would cost $800,000 for transportation the first year and $390,000 each subsequent year.

But adding NCYAA tuition to the plan would make the first year cost $1.15 million and each following year $800,000.

The other transportation option would be round-trip cab service for the students. This is estimated to cost $14,400 per school year for one student and $360,000 for 25. With tuition added, this option would cost $770,000 per year for 25 students.

The in-house program would use the same district building NCYAA has been leasing at 335 E. Illinois Ave. in Palatine, with capacity for 35 students.

"We believe this is the best solution for our students and for the district," Superintendent Dan Cates said.

District 211's recent annual cost for NCYAA services has been about $410,000. But the agency is looking for ways to reduce costs due in part to a significant reduction in state funding.

The District 211 board is expected to vote May 12.

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