Pieces falling into place for the Austin Academy
Middletown alternative education program slated to begin after new year
BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN - With the newly created Austin Academy slated to open after the start of the new year, its staff is slowly starting to take shape.

The academy, a twilight program that will run Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., is an alternative education program for students who may be at academic or behavioral risk. The academy will be housed in Middletown High School North, and has a projected opening date sometime in the middle of next month.

One of the newest members of the district will be James Homiak, who will assume his role as assistant principal in the next few weeks. Homiak is currently a biology teacher at Collier High School in Marlboro, a special education day school for boys and girls.

Until the academy's opening, Homiak knows he will be busy getting ready for his new position.

"I have a background in alternative education and I've been at Collier for 11 years," Homiak explained. "I want to take that experience and come to Middletown and help out as much as possible. The goal is to provide a comfortable learning environment and a setting for kids to be successful. We want to prepare kids for the next step in life."

The academy was purposely designed as a twilight program so that those enrolled can have a job if they so choose. According to Homiak, there will be approximately 12-15 students enrolled in the program the first year, with the hope that more will be added each year.

For now, Homiak says there has been "a lot of interviewing and training," to find the right pieces that will complete the school's administrative puzzle prior to opening night.

"We're looking to probably have two full-time teachers and one part-timer as well," Homiak said. "We want to create an atmosphere where kids can accomplish big things. We want to create a community within a community. We're going to try and help kids that may fall through the cracks."

Acting Superintendent of Schools Karen Bilbao spoke about the creation of the academy, named after former Assistant Superintendent Jane Austin.

"She was the one who developed the original application for this program," Bilbao said. "Later on in her career, she came back to the district and refurbished the application. This has been about a four or five year process and so we think it's only right to name this in her honor."

Bilbao also explained that the curriculum is designed so that students can meet standards so that they may gain credits and graduate.

Among the main things that Homiak wants students to be able to work on are their academics and behavior, as well as developing character and work ethic.

"We're bringing in kids that are at risk, both academically and behaviorally," Homiak explained. "I feel very confident that things will work out in Middletown. I'm sure it'll be hectic, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."