Long Rapids Road Reference
Alpena, MI 49707

I waited until my last child was done with this school before reviewing because I didn't want my kids to pay for my opinions. My kids have been going to Besser since 2009, so 14 years. We have been through 4 principals and multiple teachers and staff. It was a great school until 4-5? years ago. When the last principal took over. Then it all went downhill. Parking, dropping off and picking up kids became a huge problem. Kids are marked late because their clock is the only right clock in the world (as I see someone else mentioned). It's just a mess there. Last day of school you could go to line the halls to see your 5th grader walk the halls at the end of the day. Lots of parents showed up. They weren't even allowed to park in the parking lot at the school. We all had to park on the street. Most teachers there no longer care about the kids. There are only a couple who actually care. I told them for YEARS that my daughter didn't know multiplication. She was struggling in math. Finally, the last couple months of 5th grade they discovered that like a third of the fifth graders were struggling in math (most likely due to covid) and weren't ready for 6th grade. imagine that. Now they have tutors this summer. I've already found a paid tutor for my child sine they wouldn't help prior.The year prior I had miserable kids because of masks. They didn't care that my daughter had headaches every day from one. No sympathy. The teachers mocked and made fun of the kids who didn't want to wear a mask. My son missed a ton of school (we eventually figured out why and fixed it) but he was miserable there and I reached out to several staff members. Most of them didn't care and the principal was actually quite rude about it. Only one teacher (my son's teacher from a previous year) replied back to me and was very helpful and supportive. If not for her I would have pulled my son. NO ONE ELSE wanted to help him!!! Again, the teacher's there act all kind and supportive, but the majority of them and the principal DO NOT CARE! This school used to be very welcoming to parents before the recent principal took over. I was always told that that was my child and I was free to come in an observe whenever I wanted. Parents were always welcome. Not anymore. It's VERY parent unfriendly.