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State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), shown in this file photo, is the sponsor of a bill that would allow the state to create the first public 'recovery high school'

(Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — The state government could put a plan in place to open the first public "recovery high school" for teens with substance abuse problems under a bill approved by a state Senate panel today.



The legislation — approved 5-0 by the Senate Education Committee — would authorize the state's education commissioner to create a pilot program to establish the high school.



If the bill (S2058) becomes law, the school could be named after the bill's sponsor.



A plan is already in the works open a new recovery high school in September called the Raymond J. Lesniak Experience, Strength and Hope Recovery School.

“At first I declined,” Lesniak (D-Union) said of the school being named after him. “I thought it over because I never wanted anything named after me. A garage, an arena… But this is better than that. It’s a growing organism that’s going to help people.”

Lesniak said the school — planned for Kean University's campus by the non-profit group Prevention Links — will open regardless of whether the bill becomes law, but that the legislation "provides an established framework that would be helpful if adopted."

The idea to create a public recovery high school was recently supported by task force appointed by Gov. Chris Christie to address the state's heroin crisis. Its members included former Gov. Jim McGreevey, a Lesniak political ally.



Prevention Links first attempted to open the Lesniak school as a charter school, but was rejected by the Department of Education because of what officials said was a weak financial plan and an emphasis "more on successful recovery than on academic rigor."



"Quite frankly, I think the Department of Education just didn't have a handle and understanding of what recovery schools are all about," Lesniak said.

Under the bill (S2058), the commissioner of education would issue a request for proposals for organizations to run the high school. Although Prevention Links plans to apply apply, the process would be open to others as well.



Under the legislation, whichever school took part in the state recovery school program would accept pupils from around the state, whose home school districts would provide a per-pupil payment to the school that includes both state aid and the local tax levy, as well as any federal funds "directly attributable" to the student. A certified alcohol or drug counselor would need to decide that the placement is "clinically appropriate" for the student.



After being open for two years, the school would have to send the commissioner of education an analysis that includes its graduation rates, retention rates, course performance and performance on state assessments.



The Association of Recovery High Schools lists 29 member and associate schools, including one in New Jersey: Daytop Preparatory School in Mendham. Although Daytop is a private institution, its students' tuition is paid for by their local school district, according to the school's education director, Erin Carrabba.

Carrabba in a phone interview said she’s happy that another recovery school could open up, too.

"I think it's fabulous that they're starting to realize there's a real need for that," she said. "I think that's a great move in the right direction.



Lesniak said the high school in Union is needed to shield students from the environment that got them into trouble in the first place.



"There are children who are being left behind in our public school system. Children addicted to alcohol and drugs," Lesniak said. "These children need peer support, not peer pressure."



To become law, the bill would need to pass the full state Senate and Assembly, and win Christie's approval. A spokesman for Christie did not respond to a request for comment on the legislation.

State Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren) initially voted against the bill. But after the committee meeting, he switched his vote to yes after discussing the bill with Lesniak. Doherty said he initially thought the bill was unnecessary because there are already public alternative schools that enroll students with substance abuse problems, but that Lesniak changed his mind.

"He said they really don’t focus on the alcohol and drug dependency," Doherty said. "I’ll support him at this phase.”

Update: This story has been modified to reflect state Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren) changing his vote from no to yes.

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