It is a real jolt to learn that David and Judy Lehman and Maggie Goldsmith are retiring from ACS. That news brings

the realization that eleven years have passed since all our lives had been so closely entwined. Our older son, Matthew,

entered the New Junior High Program (NJHP) in 1975 and our own connection with Ithaca’s alternative secondary

school continued until 1993 through the Yurt Project even after Emily and Jeremy had graduated (in 1984 and ‘88

respectively). When the call came for memorabilia, we looked through our old files: reports, agendas, memos – all of

which we’re sure Dave or Judy has carefully filed already! But they may not have one letter to a school board member

that was prepared on a historic machine, the typewriter, in the dark pre-computer days of 1977. We’re enclosing a

copy of a real carbon copy, complete with messy corrections. And we couldn’t resist sending a copy of part of the

January 8, 1993 mock issue of the Ithaca Journal, which we recall was done by the staff for Dave’s birthday. Lastly, we

enclose a copy of my (Sandy’s) honorary ACS diploma awarded in 1988, the granting of which, we suspect was

instigated by Dave.

Our children and we were exceptionally fortunate to be living in Ithaca during this period, which encompassed the

transformation of East Hill Elementary School and, later, the evolution of NJHP and ACHS into ACS. These schools

managed to be both demanding and humane, serving the needs of students who would have dropped out as well as

those who might have done well or might have been bored or crushed. At ACS, the courage and creativity of Dave,

Judy, Maggie and so many other terrific staff allowed us to have enduring confidence that our kids were getting a

wholesome, well-rounded education. Beyond that, the central role that students had in running their school ensured

that our kids were unusually well prepared for college and for taking responsibility for their own education. Of course

our years of work to support and fight for progressive alternative education in Ithaca stemmed from our concern for our

own children’s education. But our focus was not so much their individual programs of learning as preserving and

improving for the community the schools they were so lucky to have available to them. In fact, once our three moved

on to their new educational experiences we never attended a single college parent orientation or weekend, preferring to

visit our kids at times that gave us a chance simply to be with them in their new environments.

Here are some fragments of memory to help Dave and Judy look back:

- the graduations, picnics and gatherings at Dave & Judy’s home in Spencer- the autumn apple butter making in that big old pot - yum!- the long and frequent meetings: staff meetings, hiring meetings, strategy meetings for dealing with School Districtpolicies, all school meetings- the day that Matt had been roughed up after school at NJHP and his famous hat had been grabbed when Dave cameto our home to reassure us; and then some years later Jeremy had a similar experience in his middle school years at theWest Hill building of ACS- Dave’s interview of Emily for NJHP after our return from a year in California in 1978 when the anxious tensionseemed to melt from the top of her head to her feet before my (Sandy’s) eyes- Dave’s helping Matthew put in a special order for fruit flies for an independent science project; Matt later did anindependent class on philosophy of science with Dave, who was a supremely devoted teacher- Judy’s indefatigable work at maintaining information, records and accessibility to the school; her warmth and vibrantspirit; and how she managed to work so closely and cheerfully with her husband!- calling Dave to question him about difficult issues that needed attention, for example when, in the late ‘80's severalBlack families perceived racism at the school and Dave immediately agreed to set up special meetings together with theParents’ Advisory Board

So, farewell dear Dave and Judy. You have worked tirelessly and devotedly for 30 years to help create and shape a

public institution that still lives today as an all-too-rare example of democracy! Your departure will bring huge

challenges for the school community, but you are leaving a strong legacy for those who carry on. We hope that these

next years will offer you time for rest, reflection and adventure, as well.

With deep affection and respect,

Sandy and David Lyons, Boston, MA

I met Dave Lehman in 1975. I was a timid twelve-year-old, taking a leap into the wildness and sense of possibility thatwas NJHP. From the beginning, Dave was a reassuring anchor, who made it clear that every student was important andworth his full attention. Over the years, I benefited repeatedly from Dave's teaching -- from seventh grade, when hehelped me breed fruit flies for a genetics project, to my senior year,when his World Religions seminar opened my eyes to many different cultures and practices. Trips with Dave also standout as highlights: Dave's singing at many an all-school campfire, long car rides to meet with folks from other alternativeschools, and skipping my college graduation to join Dave and other ACSers on a visit to Akwesasne MohawkReservation.

Dave helped me to learn that while individual achievement matters, respecting and valuing every person matters more.He helped me to learn that building a democratic community is hard work -- and this work is as important as anythingelse we may do in school or after. Dave offered, and was willing to push for, his vision of what NJHP/ACHS/ACSshould be. At the same time, he welcomed our efforts as students to shape the school ourselves -- even (especially?) whenthat meant shaking things up. Thatkind of inclusive leadership gets lip service all the time, but few people meet its challenges as well as I saw Dave do.

Judy Lehman always impressed me by how she fielded the constant stream of students in and out of the office -- kidsneeding her attention for this or that -- and still managed to get the paperwork done and keep the school running. Evenwhen everything around seemed hectic, her patience and goodhumor made the office a place we could come and catch our breath.

Thank you, Dave and Judy, for all your years helping to make the Alternative Community School a special place.Every time I facilitate a meeting, write an article, attend a demonstration, or care for my infantson Leo, I draw on skills and values that you helped to nurture at ACS.

Best wishes,Matt Lyons

Sitting down to write about ACHS’ impact on my life, I wonder how to even begin. How do you untangle a thread that

runs through EVERYTHING? ACHS taught me some of the best things I know:

How to run a meeting.

How to disagree with someone and still treat them like a person.

How to act like a person even when someone isn’t treating you like one.

How to work within the system.

How to ignore the system and do what needs doing. And how to get away with it.

That people are capable of much, much more than you think they are, whether they’re 15, 5, or 50.

That tools and skills will get you farther than facts and schedules.

That learning is a process, not a destination, and that the most important things you’re learning at any given moment

probably have little to do with the “official” subject matter being “taught.”

Almost all of my memories of ACHS are interwoven with memories of Dr. Dave. He was everywhere, doing what

needed doing most at that moment, noticing and making notes in his tiny writing (thanks, Jeff Stein, for reminding me

of that detail!). Dave always knew when to leave a kid alone to figure it out for herself, and when to step in to help, or to

break up the fight, or point out how silly we were acting without making us FEEL silly, or to make some eloquent plea

to the school board that kept the school from getting shut down, again.

ACHS, more than any other single force, taught me how to THINK about things, and to think with my heart as well as

my head. How to see multiple sides to an argument. How to live with people, how to belong to and consciously create

a community. For most people, these are hard-won lessons, and not a natural part of their teen years. We were

incredibly lucky, and behind that luck was a great deal of plain old hard work. Our teachers – and most especially Dr.

Dave – were a stone cast in the water, whose ripples have gone farther than any of us could possibly have imagined.

My kids attend a public-school multi-age alternative program that started in 1972 (which, I think, makes it older than

NJHP/ACS/ACHS!). Occasionally, it comes up that I attended an alternative high school. I usually start out with a

simple “well, there was an alternative junior high but no high school, so we kind of created one…” Lately, there’s been

talk about extending our program through middle school. And I, after 25+ years, realize that not only do I actually

know HOW to start a school, but that I get to have the fun of doing it again. Thanks, Dave.

Liz Vaughan (Urner) ACHS ‘80