The Individualized Learning Center is an alternative educational program residing in Eureka but serving the entirety of the Rockwood community. 

This center is open to students who are credit deficient, have significant fear or anxiety in the school environment, and other struggles that make it hard for them to focus and thrive in the high school environment. This program allows students to get their high school diploma in an environment that suits them. 

This program; however, is due for a redesign that will last one semester to a year, temporarily pausing the program. 

“The ILC is on pause for redesign to really think about what is best for our kids. We have to keep up with the needs of the students. We’re trying to find the answers for how we can best meet the needs of our students in this place and this time,” Dr. Terry Harris, the Executive Director of Student Services at Rockwood, said. 

This redesign will reevaluate the educational needs of students and update the center to better support the program. 

“Once we reimagine the ILC it is going to be the best alternative education center in Missouri, and I would venture to say the Midwest. It will center the lives of the students that need it today. It’s a hard thing to put it on pause but it’s the right thing to do,” Harris said. 

No redesign plans are set in stone, rather a committee of students, educators and community members will evaluate the changes needed. 

Until the redesign is complete, students will be given an individualized plan, where they can choose to return to their home high schools, go virtual or switch to another high school. Students will also be given support systems to ease the transition.

Students will have flexible schedules and will be given the opportunity to take part in the Restore Program and spend time when needed in the ‘Restore Room.’

“This is a hard change for those students, especially those who have been there for a couple of years. The human thing is to be compassionate and empathetic with those students and explain to them what is going on and that we’re going to make things better,” Dr. Harris said. 

Teachers from the ILC will be transferred to their home high schools as well to help facilitate the transition and work with credit deficient students. 

The ILC will reopen after the design which will take a more modern look at alternative education. 

“We’re committed to alternative education for our students and what they could be and what that could look like,” Dr. Harris said.