Bayfront Alternative Education Program

The Bayfront Alternative Education Program (BAEP) at the Bayfront Maritime Center served Erie’s Public Schools High School students from the 2009-2010 school year through 2017-2018 school year. The district has relocated all the alternative education programs, beginning in 2018-2019 school year, to the Emerson-Gridley School, located at 816 S Park Ave, Erie, PA 16502. For questions regarding Erie’s High School Alternative Education program please call 814-835-7676.

The program provided effective and therapeutic learning opportunities in a safe environment for 8th-12th grade students not achieving educational success in traditional classrooms. These students were in serious risk of not graduating and suffering the subsequent lifelong consequences. These are great kids, not always easy kids, but great kids who needed innovative programming and techniques to help them develop a positive sense of future and achieve success in school. The BAEP academic component was composed of traditional and web based curriculum combined with hands-on, STEM-focused, maritime projects and activities aligned with Pennsylvania Department of Education standards. Students continued their high school courses as well as experiencing BMC’s fully equipped boat shop, which allowed them to work with their hands, their heads and their hearts and think on their feet. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM components, were woven into the school day using BMC’s digital fabrication equipment and Buffalo Computer Graphics 3D Maritime Training Simulator.

The Bayfront Alternative Education Program was the recipient of the $47,052 PA Dept of Education “Promising Strategies Grant” which provided technology, academic enhancement and assessment, career exploration tools and vocational STEM related equipment for the students.

Other equipment purchased with grant funding included a Canon Powershot Camera, a Canon Camcorder, and video editing software for students to experience video and video editing while documenting the hands-on activities.

BAEP students studied art under the direction of Artist-in-Residence, Ron Bayuzick. Many people in the community may recognize Ron as the “Artist of the Year” selected by the Erie Arts and Culture in 2016. Ron was instrumental in the construction of the giant metal sculpture of the globe and horse, built on the corner of East 13th and Holland Street, Erie. We were fortunate to have such a talented artist working with our students.The Artist-in-Residence program is funded in part by a grant from Erie Arts and Culture.

The primary goal of BAEP was to help students improve behaviors, develop coping skills, progress academically, and achieve success so that they could transition back to their home school. Students were referred by Erie’s Public Schools from the district high school. The Bayfront Alternative Education Program was designed to help students make positive choices and to learn self-control techniques so that they could develop positive behavior at home, in school, and in the community.

Classes were small and each of the rooms had a certified teacher and behavioral counselor assigned. Core subjects taught were English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Maritime Studies.

Bayfront Alternative Education Program was designed to help students make positive choices and to learn self-control techniques so that they could develop positive behavior at home, in school, and in the community. Seniors who were still in the program at the end of the school year could still graduate while at BMC and receive diploma from their home school. This increased the graduation rate in the City of Erie and helped create a better community.