Steamboat Pilot & Today

Hayden — If the Soroco School District intends to offer its students an alternative school, it will do so without the help of the Hayden School District.

The Hayden School Board approved a resolution Wednesday evening that cut short the district's plans to partner with Soroco to establish an alternative school for students who do not fit into the traditional classroom setting.

The resolution called for the district to establish its own program to meet the needs of alternative school students.

The board did amend the resolution to leave open the option of pursuing the joint venture in the future.

The two districts began plans to bring an alternative school to the area last year. School officials from both districts saw the benefit of the partnership and thought combining resources made sense.

After months of researching student interest and the feasibility of an alternative school, however, the Hayden School Board wanted to make clear whether the district would proceed with or abandon the project.

School Board President Kurt Frentress said earlier the board thought it was wise to make a decision before the district committed too many resources toward the establishment of an alternative school.

Soroco Superintendent Steve Jones said his district would pursue an alternative school with or without the backing of Hayden.

Some disappointment followed the board's decision.

Hayden High School Principal Nick Schafer said he still believed an alternative school was a viable option for some students in the district.

The resolution did not signal an end to efforts to bring an alternative school to Hayden, he added.

As long as the need exists, Schafer said, he would keep pushing the idea.

"We can't (stop)" he said.

"There is too great a need."