FORT SMITH - Fort Smith will have an alternative to regular high school this coming fall.

A so-called storefront school is being created.

Al Karasiuk, the principal of Paul William Kaeser High school, stands outside the Fort Smith Rec Centre where a storefront school will be opened this coming fall. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"It's an off-campus, alternative learning opportunity," said Al Karasiuk, the principal of Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High school.

Karasiuk explained some students don't come to school regularly or have difficulty fitting into the 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. format.

That would include teenagers who have dropped out of high school and older students who are more adults than teenagers.

The storefront school - which will be located in the Fort Smith Rec Centre and at arm's length from PWK - will be flexible for an individual's learning needs.

"This might be a way to get them back into education," Karasiuk said.

His estimate is that 20 to 25 students in the 14 to 20 age range might use the storefront school.

"I think there's a definite need," he said.

The storefront school will have its own teacher and classroom assistant.

However, Karasiuk said it will not offer classes in the traditional sense, but will be more progress-based as opposed to attendance-based.

"It's not going to be classes per se," he said.

The teacher and each student will design a course of study tailored to the individual. It will be independent home study with the teacher as a marker/tutor. Each student would be required to take a minimum 15 credits over two semesters.

The exception to individual learning might be workshops for groups on particular topics.

Karasiuk said the goal will also be unique to each student, and high school graduation might not necessarily be the target.

Some students might be seeking to upgrade their level of education to Grade 9 or 10 to qualify for trades training.

The storefront school will initially operate Monday to Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. And 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.

"These are the hours we're going to start with," said Karasiuk, who added the hours may be adjusted later.

It will follow the regular school year, with the same starting date and the same breaks.

The name - the Fort Smith Storefront School - may also change, since students will be asked to suggest a permanent name.

It will cost about $200,000 for its initial year and will be funded through the PWK budget. That includes start-up costs for such things as computers and furniture.

The storefront school, which will operate in a room donated by the Town of Fort Smith, is an initiative of PWK and the Fort Smith District Education Authority.