Beginning in September, the nine component districts that comprise Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES will have another alternative for at-risk students. Westside Academy, the new BOCES 2 alternative high school, will open its doors at Westview Commons on Buffalo Road in Gates in time for the 2001-2002 school year. At its helm will be Maureen Viel, who currently works for BOCES 2 as a secondary instructional specialist and will take over the position of principal on July 1. Viel also taught at the BOCES 2 Special Education Alternative High School for two years and at Greece Olympia High School for five years.

According to Viel, Westside Academy is designed to meet the needs of students who are unsuccessful in the larger high school setting. The school will feature class sizes no larger than 15 and strive to meet the academic and social needs of students in innovative ways. "Early on in each student's high school career, we will be looking at what they want to do with their lives," explained Viel. "Westside Academy will offer strong academic programs with career and technical options for students."

For the first year, Westside Academy will be open to just ninth- and tenth-graders, with 11th-grade being added in the 2002-2003 school year and 12th in 2003-2004. Districts will refer students and then Westside Academy staff will review each student's records and determine if he or she fits the school's profile. A total of 60 students will be accepted into the Academy for the fall of 2001. In addition to Viel, staff will include five teachers, one social worker, and two childcare workers.

Jo Anne Antonacci, assistant superintendent for Instructional Programs, developed the idea for an alternative high school based on districts' needs. While some larger districts may have their own alternative high schools, smaller districts often don't have the resources. That's where Westside Academy comes in. "This will be a school with high academic expectations," said Viel. "We will take an innovative approach by offering students real choices and a learning environment that will lead to responsible and productive adult lives."

"Our staff will be working closely with students and their families to deal with issues such as self esteem, anger, drugs and alcohol, and family problems," Viel said. "The school will be small enough that everyone will know one another and students will be made to feel cared about and successful."