N.J.-S.P. Revises Contract With The Crossing

Posted on July 26, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI 

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board last week approved an amended agreement with The Crossing alternative school. The Knox-based campus opened in 2014 and was billed as an option for students who have been expelled from or dropped out of public school or who have otherwise fallen through the cracks to complete high school.

The faith-based school offers a mix of classroom and vocational training. Participating students run a micro-business of refurbishing and selling furniture in order to learn job skills. The Starke County Crossing is located in the former Sears building on U.S. 35 next to Save-a-Lot.

The N.J.-S.P. School board agreed in April of 2014 to send four students to The Crossing. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says they were obligated under that contract to pay for four slots, even if they weren’t filled.  Last week they revised that to a “pay-as-you-go agreement” with the school. Zupin says there’s no limit on the number of students North Judson-San Pierre can send to The Crossing and adds the corporation will be billed accordingly.

N.J.-S.P. is one of several area school corporations that send students to The Crossing.

Student Achievements Showcased at Spring Celebration

Published: May 1, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

The Crossing has only been operating for about one year, but according to their students, there have been some major accomplishments.

A spring celebration was held in Knox at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center on Thursday night. The gathering allows the alternative education school to showcase what students have been working to accomplish in their academic and personal lives.

Tristen Kajer attends The Crossing as a sophomore. He says bullying he experienced led him to the school – which he hopes to turn into a positive for the future.

“I want to travel around the world,” says Kajer. “I want to reach out to teens. I want to help them. Whoever’s oppressed, whoever’s getting bullied, whoever’s in darkness, I want to bring them back into light and show them that they’re not alone.”

Around 50 students attend The Crossing – which has tripled their enrollment numbers since first opening their doors. The school accepts students who are deemed to be struggling in a public school environment, but introduces a spiritual component.

Apart from earning credits to be put toward their high school graduation requirements, students have also begun working on a micro-business.

Refinishing, assembling, and selling furniture allows the students to learn job placement skills while raising funds for the school. Some of the furniture was available for auction on Thursday night.

The Crossing CEO Rob Staley says a focus on the student’s mind is only one component.

“We really believe that if you can’t get to the heart, you can’t change the behavior,” says Staley. “You can make somebody smarter, but they’re not necessarily wiser.”

Student speakers discussed their trouble with addiction and the law, but cited the teachers at the school as a prime driver of their recovery.

Graduation for The Crossing won’t take place for a couple of weeks.

8/28/2014 Spotlight Breakfast Scheduled at The Crossing

Published: August 25, 2014

By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Community members are invited to learn more about Starke County’s newest school during a spotlight breakfast. It’s scheduled at The Crossing campus on U.S. 35 next to Save A Lot on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 a.m. The faith-based alternative school opened recently and provides a combination of classroom and vocational training for students who have dropped out, been expelled or otherwise fallen through the cracks in the public school system.

Organizers say the goal is to empower struggling students to become contributing members of their communities through academics, job training and faith-based mentoring. Coffee and donuts will be served. The informational session will end at 8:30 a.m.

Prospective students can stop by the school Monday through Friday from 8 until 11 a.m. and 1 until 3 p.m. to sign up for classes. Board president Mark Bailey says students will not be turned away, and financial assistance is available. Students who register for classes by Sept. 12 will count toward their home public school corporation’s enrollment count for the sake of state funding. The public school and The Crossing will each get a share of that money. Find more information online at http://crossingeducation.com/.

The Crossing Set to Open Next Week in Knox

By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Published: July 24th, 2014

Starke County’s newest school is set to open on Friday, Aug. 1. The Crossing has leased the old Sears retail location south of Knox on U.S. 35 for its alternative school. The mission statement on the Goshen-based nonprofit organization’s website says The Crossing believes in “empowering struggling students to become contributing members of their communities through academics, job training and faith-based mentoring.”

Earlier this year, The Crossing contracted with Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Schools to serve students who have been expelled, dropped out of school or have otherwise fallen through the educational cracks. The schools identified youngsters who might be good fits for the program. So far eight have enrolled in the program, which offers a mix of classroom and vocational training. Mark Bailey is the local board president. He says students can enroll year-round in the school, but those who sign up by Sept. 12 will count toward their host corporation’s enrollment number for the sake of state funding. The Crossing will get a share of that money to defray tuition expenses. Bailey adds The Crossing will not turn any students away who enroll after that date and says scholarships are available. Open houses at the local site are scheduled Wednesday, July 30^th, and Thursday, July 31^st, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Find more information online at http://crossingeducation.com.