The town of Freeborn will have a school for one year.

Though not a run of the mill school, the United South Central school district’s Sober School gives students with alcohol or drug problems — who otherwise might not finish school — a chance.

&uot;To say that now we have one more year, that’s just one more opportunity for kids to retain that service,&uot; USC High School principal Greg Spath, who also oversees the Sober School, said. &uot;We look at it as a positive that the board has given a guarantee of 2003-2004 year.&uot;

The USC school board agreed to keep the school open for one more year last week. The district had been considering closing the building and school when it was found that the school had many repairs that needed to be addressed.

A few district principals and board members cited the state of the building as a large cost, and said the district, with budget problems looming, would not be able to afford keeping the school open.

In reaction to those possibilities, teachers and students from the Sober School began a campaign to raise money to keep the school open and to repair the roof. Spath said they sent out more than 150 letters to businesses, community clubs and private individuals asking for donations.

They raised almost $14,000, enough to cover almost all of the cost of repairing the roof of the building.

The money will keep the school open one more year, but its life beyond that is still uncertain.

&uot;Hopefully we can keep dealing with building maintenance problems,&uot; Spath said.

The Sober School opened in 1999. That first year it had 12 students. Since then, enrollment has grown to an average of just over 30 a year.

It is the only school of its kind in rural Minnesota.

Spath said the opportunities the school offers would be tough to replace.

&uot;It gives students a variety of things,&uot; he said. &uot;First, it gives them a viable option. Second, it takes some pressure off of the counties. These programs are offered right in their own back yards, instead of having to send kids to the metro area, half way houses, foster homes, or things of that nature.&uot;

Freeborn County Sheriff Mark Harig agrees that the program is a success.

&uot;I think it’s an excellent program,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s a big benefit if they can keep it open.&uot;

Harig said it is

important because it provides a place for students with drug and alcohol problems to be with others who are trying to become clean and sober.

&uot;In order for them to try to go straight and avoid reoccurring use of chemicals, alcohol or drugs, they have to get away from their influences,&uot; he said.

Spath said the group of students and teachers is still looking for donations to help secure more time for the school’s existence. Donations can be made at Farmer’s State Bank in Freeborn.