By Charlotte MacAulay
charlotte@peicanada.com

It has cost taxpayers $71,000 to keep a portion of the old Montague High School open for Industrial Arts and an alternative education program in 2010-11.
Expenses include fuel, electricity, snow removal, water, maintenance and repairs to the Industrial Arts section used by 450 students from Montague Intermediate and several consolidated schools in the area as well as another portion being used by 20 alternative education students from the Montague Family of Schools.
That cost is worth it, Julie Gaudet, acting director of Student Services for the Eastern School District, said.
The Montague Family of Schools Alternative Education Program, which is set up for students who aren’t successful in the regular school setting, moved into a space in the school in 2010 and the resources they have are a lot more favourable than their previous location where they had just one room and a washroom.
Back in the spring of 2010, the lease was up on the program’s former space on Main Street, Montague just at the same time the old high school was vacated. Ms Gaudet said after a tour, they realized the site met the needs for the program.
“Even though the building isn’t very attractive on the outside we felt the building met our needs, was comfortable and well equipped,” she said.
With separate instructional area, a smart board and a kitchenette and even a multi-use courtyard, the students in this transitional based program are comfortable in the space, Ms Gaudet said.
“We’re using a very small portion of the school. They don’t have access, and nor are they anywhere near the large portion of the school that has been closed,” she said.
Though program enrolment can be as high as 20, not all the students spend their days at the site.
“Typically we wouldn’t have more than 10-12 students at a time,” she said.
Right now this location is the best option for the program, Ms Gaudet said.
“Obviously if it ever comes to the point where we’re having to look for a place to hang the hats of those children, we’ll be looking for a space that’s not dissimilar to what we have right now.”
“We don’t look at it as an unfortunate circumstance for them right now. They feel pretty lucky to have that space,” Ms Gaudet said.