BIDDEFORD — The Biddeford Alternative Pathway Center program, or APC, will undergo various changes, including a new partnership with the Community Bike Center.

Martha Jacques, first-year director for the APC, detailed the changes to the program during Tuesday’s School Committee meeting.

“We’re very excited this year,” said Jacques. “There’s been a lot of time spent building that partnership. We’re going to be spending about six hours a week with the Community Bike Center. They’re going to do some non-traditional programs with us around bikes, but also work with the teachers at APC.”

Jacques added that the bike center would assist teachers in teaching social studies by mapping the curriculum so that the projects students are working on can be tied back to the academics in the classroom.

In an effort to provide students with strong social support, Jacques said the University of Maine will be sending a part-time social work intern to work 20-hours a week with the program. Additionally, Day One — a teen substance abuse treatment programs — will have a counselor available one day per week, as will targeted case managers from Opportunity Alliance of South Portland and Spurwink Services of Portland, amongst others.

Also, Jacques said, APC students could gain a physical education credit through learning with the Community Bike Center.

“The buzz is getting around, kids are excited about the program,” Jacques said.

Other members of the School Committee were highly appreciative of the work put into the program this school year.

“I’d like to thank Martha for all the work she’s done in re-launching this program,” said School Committee member Dominic Deschambault. “We are super excited about both the program and partnership with CBC.”

This is the fifth year the program will be in the school district. The program was previously outside the district until Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray decided to bring the program in house.

APC has a wide range of credits that students can attain, spanning from health and science, to English and math. In total, enrolled students have the ability to earn up to 16 credits.

Historically, APC has been used as a credit recover program for juniors and seniors. Thirty to 40 students typically signed up for the program, which was located in the mill district. Thirty-seven students are signed up this year, with a waitlist of 18. This year, the program will be taking place on the first floor of 73 Bacon Street, in the heart of downtown Biddeford. A portion of the program is expected to take place at the Biddeford Teen Center.

The first day back for grades 10 to 12 will be Thursday, Aug. 31.

— Staff Writer Ryder Schumacher can be reached at 282-1535, or via email at [email protected].