'Exactly what we need': K.E.Y.S. Academy, Middletown drug recovery high school, gets boost
Jennise Nieves is a relentlessly optimistic person. That’s why the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District administrator co-founded K.E.Y.S. Academy, a high school for teens in addiction recovery based at Brookdale Community College in Middletown.
But Nieves can count, too, and she knew it was going to be hard to continue as the academy’s state-funded budget was cut in half the past three years, from $1 million to $500,000.
“The past year we were really struggling and hoping to get that funding,” she said.
The struggle ended last month, when state Sen. Vin Gopal announced a $500,000 state appropriation to restore K.E.Y.S. Academy to its original budget for the coming school year.
“This is exactly what we need,” Nieves said.
Launched in 2017 by Matawan-Aberdeen Regional and nonprofit partner Right Your Life with the help of a $1.3 million grant from the New Jersey Department of Education, K.E.Y.S. (Knowledge Empowers Youth & Sobriety) Academy's enrollment grew to 16 students for the 2021-22 school year and is expected to be 20 when classes begin after Labor Day.
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The students, who attend free of charge, mostly hail from Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean counties. In addition to doing standard coursework, they take part in addiction counseling, a variety of therapies (horses, art, yoga) and peer tutoring with students from High Technology High School.
Drug testing is conducted weekly. There are bag checks. Those who relapse are referred to higher-level services.
“Plus, there are students (who apply) that we refer to in-patient treatment,” Nieves said. “Not only are we helping kids with the school, but we’re connecting families to residential treatment facilities.”
The additional $500,000 appropriation will help cover rising transportation costs (each student gets door-to-door transportation) and an expansion of services as enrollment ticks up. It also will cover the cost of tuition for K.E.Y.S. students who take dual-enrollment courses that count for credit at Brookdale.
The past couple of years, Nieves said, Matawan-Aberdeen administrators and staff “worked magic” to make ends meet. This as the pandemic deepened the addiction crisis.
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“If anything, it’s increased with more substance abuse,” Nieves said. “Like everyone on the planet we have seen an increase when it comes to depression, anxiety, isolation, kids being more on their phone. The interpersonal and socialization skills we really need to help our kids with.”
Nieves is grateful to state lawmakers and particularly Gopal, the Monmouth County Democrat who served as the academy’s keynote graduation speaker in 2021, when a record six graduates received diplomas.
“He met the students and realized the need and how diverse the community was, how it’s more than Monmouth County,” Nieves said.
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Last week K.E.Y.S. also celebrated some more good news — a relocation within the campus that gives the academy more room.
“Brookdale helps us tremendously,” Nieves said. “They gave us a much bigger space. The goal is to service more students, and now we have office space that gives students confidentiality for meetings.”
Heading into its sixth school year, K.E.Y.S. Academy’s prospects are suddenly looking much better. Thanks to all the help, Nieves said, “We’re opening doors of opportunity for youth in recovery.”
For more information on K.E.Y.S. Academy, contact director Jennise Nieves at jnieves@marsd.org.
Jerry Carino is news columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Carino's Corner appears Mondays. Contact Jerry at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: K.E.Y.S. Academy, Middletown NJ drug recovery high school, gets boost
