Horizons school not renewed, programs merged

This is sad, the students and teachers at Horizons have great relationships.
And, as far as the boy that was quoted (Tom) about depression... I know who that is, and after losing his father, obviously the school has turned him around and its so sad that they will just let things like that go.

What will happen to the building now?

I had a friend who went there and she really did well. I went to Godwin and decided to go for a day to check it out and really enjoyed it. I ended up getting my GED but I wish I would've just gone there and got a diploma instead. It is a great program!

I am sorry about the closing, but budget cuts are also important. Twenty five students per grade? What about the increasing number of students that use the school as a way to not have homework? What about all the work and education that is missed going to the charter? My daughter attended Omega and she learned "life lessons" but for her to obtain the same diploma as my son isn't right for all the work that he has done.

I can't believe they this was the boards decision. I graduated from Orion High School. Alternative schools are needed. This decision by the board is garaunteed to put kids back on the streets and this hurts our economy even more. It's decisions like this that will keep dragging our city down!

I was at the meeting and I thought it was awful strange that Omega wasn't represented there. I saw one Omega teacher and that was it. Did they already know about the outcome while Horizons was strung along until the "decision"? Or was it that no change to come will really alter their current way of schooling?

Curious.

I could not be happier.. Since this school opened in this area, the neighborhood has had to put up with graffiti on our street signs, graffiti on the buildings and kids loitering around with their underwear hanging out.

Good Nove!!

I used to know Tom (the one quoted) and if this school has really helped him this much (especially after the tragedy with his Father), well then I really find this decision to be a shame!

I understand needing to budget and makes cuts, but at what costs is this acceptable?

Just in case anyone that is in contact with Tom reads this, "GOOOD job Tom!!! Be proud of yourself!"

I am a student at Horizons High School. Although the community might think that this is a good decision and its for the best, its ruining our hopes for the future. I have been attending for three years, and it has changed and helped me more than i could even beging to explain. What you guys dont understand is to you we are a bunch of adolescent teenagers, were not...We are a family. And i for one have never seen MY FAMILY so upset and hurt. Why was this so important to us? Why wasnt Omega there?? The public has no idea...This was the worst decision possible. And the only reason im going to the next school is because if my teachers...my family.

No matter what they did to us...
We will stand strong because...
We are Horizons forever && always!!!

I am a student at Horizons Community High School. I strongly disagree with this change. People in the community complained about us, don't you think it will be worse merging us with Omega. Why weren't Omega students or teacher at the meeting at least Horizons were there because we care about of school. I have one last thing to say and that it Horizons is my heart and they took that from me.

The kids are the ones losing on this deal. The ones who voted on this don't have kids in an alternative school and obviosly don't understand what this will do to them. The smaller school with smaller classes is exactly what these students need.

Jim wrote:

I could not be happier.. Since this school opened in this area, the neighborhood has had to put up with graffiti on our street signs, graffiti on the buildings and kids loitering around with their underwear hanging out.
Good Nove!!

If you think this will help you need to open your eyes. You are now going to have more kids not finish high school hanging around and causing more trouble.

I do feel bad for those of you that seem to be dedicated to this school. As usual.. it is a few people that have defaced the area that all of you are being blamed for. I am sorry.
To those of you that come into the neighborhoods and put forth this image, please consider your classmates.

Becky wrote:

<quoted text>
If you think this will help you need to open your eyes. You are now going to have more kids not finish high school hanging around and causing more trouble.

I'm so glad to see people are upset about this. When I read the story I thought people would be happy that an "alternative" school was shutting down. I graduated 6 years ago from an Alternative HS and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. When I would tell people where I went to school people would assume I was a "bad" kid. I'll admit, I did get into some trouble and that's why I went there but I just didn't feel that I felt in at a regular HS. When I went to the alternative hs I felt like they were my family the teachers were great, they actually cared about us.If it weren't for that school I don't know where I'd be now but I bet it wouldn't be anywhere good. I used to be really, really shy and wouldn't talk at all, well I ended up speaking at my graduation! They made me realize it was okay to be myself and not worry about what people think about me. Alternative HS aren't just for bad kids!

Do Alternative Schools truly prepare adolescents for ‘real life’?‘Real life” usually starts at age 18 when persons are considered adults by law. Is it realistic to think that if children are not allowed challenges in their lives and how to handle and cope with changes and conflict before age 18, that they would magically be able function the day of their 18th birthday?
Academics come second to ‘real life’ experience during school years. Along with ‘book learning,’ the most important lessons are respect for others, coping with change and following rules that are in place in any school system and last but not least, responsibility for your own actions.
If students cannot follow the rules set up by a traditional school system, whether it is the dress code, tardiness, respect for adults, peers or property, what function will Alternative Education serve? The alternative is not offering a challenge for growth but in fact, no growth at all, and not having to accept the consequence for unacceptable choices.
Rules and regulations are part of our lives, it goes without saying our ever growing population if proof of those who could not follow the rules.
Those who say ‘It is my family”, have to be asked why they expect the school system to provide for what should be coming from their own relatives. Those who whine that the teacher is unfair have to be asked what responsibility they have taken for themselves. Can they answer honestly that they have tried their best in the classroom or do they come unprepared only to disrupt the class with students willing to learn, before they put their feet up on a desk, pull their hat over their eyes and take a nap? Those who want freedom of expression in fashion, hairstyles and hygiene have to understand hours required in the classroom are the least in a 24-hour span.
Our Public Education System is to prepare children for the real challenges they will face in life. Alternative Education offers no challenges and they should all be phased out.

I am a student at Horizons High school and i think that it's wrong i mean Omega is our arrivals and then they decieded to put us together like everything is going to be alright yeah you wanna worry about the violance now wait until next year then what are you gonna do?? i went to horizons because i knew they chould help me in everyway because a public school just gave me the work. and now i dont even know what im going to do with my life. because it doesnt seem like anybody cares about our hopes and dreams and they go and crush them just in a snap of a finger.Horizons is a family and it will always be in my heart!!!!!!

West MI reader wrote:

Do Alternative Schools truly prepare adolescents for ‘real life’?‘Real life” usually starts at age 18 when persons are considered adults by law. Is it realistic to think that if children are not allowed challenges in their lives and how to handle and cope with changes and conflict before age 18, that they would magically be able function the day of their 18th birthday?
Academics come second to ‘real life’ experience during school years. Along with ‘book learning,’ the most important lessons are respect for others, coping with change and following rules that are in place in any school system and last but not least, responsibility for your own actions.
If students cannot follow the rules set up by a traditional school system, whether it is the dress code, tardiness, respect for adults, peers or property, what function will Alternative Education serve? The alternative is not offering a challenge for growth but in fact, no growth at all, and not having to accept the consequence for unacceptable choices.
Rules and regulations are part of our lives, it goes without saying our ever growing population if proof of those who could not follow the rules.
Those who say ‘It is my family”, have to be asked why they expect the school system to provide for what should be coming from their own relatives. Those who whine that the teacher is unfair have to be asked what responsibility they have taken for themselves. Can they answer honestly that they have tried their best in the classroom or do they come unprepared only to disrupt the class with students willing to learn, before they put their feet up on a desk, pull their hat over their eyes and take a nap? Those who want freedom of expression in fashion, hairstyles and hygiene have to understand hours required in the classroom are the least in a 24-hour span.
Our Public Education System is to prepare children for the real challenges they will face in life. Alternative Education offers no challenges and they should all be phased out.

Have you ever been in an alternative school? Most public high schools have an "image" that they make their students go by. If you aren't a prep, jock, etc. you don't fit in. You get bullied, beaten up, made fun of, etc. IS this okay? No. Should kids have to dress a way they don't want to so they wont get made fun of or beaten up? NO. Most of the time the preps don't get in trouble for it at all. As a matter of fact, I was told by the superintendant that if I didn't want to get made fun of then to join sports and where abercrombie like everyone else. Should I have to do that? No. Kids shouldn't be making fun of anyone regardless of what they look like. I went to an alternative hs and YES they were like family. YES they did teach me things. YES they did prepare me for the real world. I learned way more there then I ever did at a regular high school. That's because they took the time to get to know us, they didn't care what we looked like or how we dressed, they cared about who we were. The classrooms were much smaller so we got to have more one on one time with the teachers. It's funny how people think that these alternative kids wont amount to anything because I'm successful now and so are a lot of the other kids I went to school with. I go to McDonalds or Burger King and see those same jocks still working there 6 years after we graduated. Being an asshole and playing sports and wearing the "cool" clothes really gets you far doesn't it?

I was there last night when the choice was made to close Horizons. I also spoke from the heart to the board members. As i said last night i went to Horizons for almost 3 years, and to me Horizons isnt just a school. Its so much more than that to many of us. I have looked up to every teacher at Horizons. i still turn to many of them today. These teachers hearts are larger than most, and they welcome every student with open are. they give the extra push that most kids, like myself, to not give up on the idea that they cant do great things. To all Horizons teacher Thank you for you love and support you have give to all of. I know that i will never forget, and cant thank you enough for the things that you have done for me.

I think as with other government programs, we become entitled and we lose sight of what is being provided.

We(the taxpayers)are providing virtually anyone who wants it, 13 years of FREE schooling. Ask any private school parent what that costs. Each student receives well over $5000 per year in FREE EDUCATION. We do it for the public good. When we make these "alternative" schools I don't think we treat school as a PRIVLEDGE.

Some of the students written about in the GR Press article about Horizon's closure were in their early 20's. How many years of school do I (& the other taxpayers) have to provide to people who don't treat what we're doing for them with some thanks & respect? How many "do overs" do these people get?

I have paid thousands of dollars to educate my daughter from Kindergarten until she graduated from high school. The federal government took care of her college at the US Naval Academy. Because of the money spent and the work & discipline required to get through a school such as the USNA, we really value education. My daughter is mostly a stay at home mom now but she has become a lifelong student(like her Dad). I wish we could keep getting free school.

I am a former student of Horizons it is the best thing that ever happened to me. It changed my life. I cannot believe that they are doing this to these students. They say they care about education, I highly doubt it seeing as though they closing it and merging with Omega. I have seen how Omega is they are rude, immature, and violent. This is crushing our students. This school provides these students with a second chance, a chance that public schools do not provide. Horizons is a Family, they are my family. For some of the students attending this school it is their only family. The community may think that our school is pointless...I have one Question for them then. What other school has so many students that care enough to go to a meeting and try to save their school? I do not think that a public school would have so many students former and present attend a meeting to save their school. I thought education was the most imortant thing....I didnt realize that it was all about money to them. These students need this school and merging it with Omega isn't going to make better for them. It's just going create more problems. I just want to say one more thing I am very disapointed in the board of "education" this is the worst decision you have ever made.