During the June 18, 2026, meeting of the Lafayette County C-1 Board of Education, Alternative Education teacher Courtney Bergsieker provided an informative presentation about the district’s Alternative Learning Center (ALC), explaining its purpose, addressing common misconceptions, and celebrating student success stories.

Bergsieker said one of her primary goals is to ensure that stu-dents enrolled in the ALC have every opportunity to succeed aca-demically while receiving the individualized support they need to earn their high school diploma. success plans tailored to each student’s needs. New students are admitted each quarter as others complete the program. make a traditional classroom setting more challenging. Many are at least one grade level behind their peers, are considered at risk of dropping out, have personal or family circumstances outside of school, or simply struggle in a conventional educational environment.

Bergsieker emphasized that the ALC is not a disciplinary placement and is not intended for “bad kids.” Instead, participation is voluntary and students remain in the program until graduation.

Courses are completed through the EDgenuity online learning platform, allowing students to work at their own pace must earn at least a 70 percent, or a grade of C, to successfully complete each course.

Communication with parents and caregivers is maintained daily to help students stay on

“Let’s
graduate!”

Missouri Options Program

Bergsieker also highlighted the district’s participation in the Missouri Options Program, a state-sponsored pathway that allows eligible atrisk students to earn a regular high school diploma rather than dropping out.

To qualify, students generally must be at least 17 years old (or 15 under special circumstances), be approximately one year behind academically, and successfully complete several sonal Finance and Health coursework, attending high school for at least 15 hours each week, and participating in work-study or community service MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL News Release For further information please contact: Sgt. Bradley Germann 573-526-6122 June 23, 2026

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) is warning the public of a recent scam targeting residents. A growing number of financial fraud cases have been reported across the state and country, resulting in significant financial loss to individuals.

In a recent investigation conducted by DDCC, criminals established a relationship with the victim utilizing an online social media chat platform. The suspect conversed with the victim numerous times via the internet, grooming the victim into thinking the relationship was legitimate. After a significant period of time, the suspect contacted the victim and advised they had sent a parcel/package to the victim’s residence. While waiting for the package, the victim received a fraudulent notice via WhatsApp, which depicted an AI generated document containing the Missouri State Highway Patrol logo/emblem. The notice indicated the expected package/parcel was “seized for inspection” by the “VIP Delivery Transit Program”. The message also contained information on how to pay for the “processing fee” utilizing gift cards.

The Patrol does not have a “VIP Delivery Transit Program”, and citizens who have received a similar notice should report the scam to their local law enforcement agency. As a reminder, the Patrol will never solicit funds, demand fines, or request payment for any services provided. The Patrol will not utilize email, social media, or chat platforms to contact/converse with individuals.

Criminals often use the internet, social media, email, dating sites, text messages, and phone calls to convince victims to send money through cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other assets, including gift cards. These scams are designed to appear legitimate and frequently rely on urgency or fear. If you believe you, or someone you know, have fallen victim, or someone suspicious has reached out to you, please notify local law enforcement or the Patrol as soon as possible.

Follow the Patrol on X @MSHPTrooperDDCC