A Dane County alternative high school that faced possible shutdown over finances has won a reprieve that will keep the school open for at least one more year.

"The good news is we got it to stay open. And we got some time to recommit ourselves to how we might keep it open, " said Belleville School District Superintendent Randy Freese, who worked with the superintendents of the Mount Horeb and Oregon school districts to recommend measures approved Friday at a meeting of Dane County superintendents.

Under the plan to save Dane County Transition School, 10 school districts in and around Dane County will purchase at least 24 slots at $13,690 apiece for high school students who struggle academically or socially in traditional schools.

Previous projections had put next year 's attendance as low as 15, a move that could have pushed per-pupil costs beyond $20,000 -- a level too high for many districts to afford.

"I 'm super excited that I get to be with these kids for another year, " said Judy Reed, the school 's principal, who thanked students and alumni of the school, an affiliated private foundation, superintendents and residents for supporting the school since its crisis became public two weeks ago.

Reed has compiled figures showing that more than 97 percent of Transition Schools earn high school diplomas, which are awarded by their home school districts.

Transition School, founded by Reed in 1992, operates in upstairs rooms at the back of Villager Mall, 2326 S. Park St. on Madison 's South Side, and relies upon flexible teaching methods to connect with students.

Freese said the school 's $360,000 budget for the 2008-09 school year is balanced because of $15,000 in budget cuts and a $30,000 contribution from the Foundation for Dane County Transition School.

"We 're really, really fortunate to have the foundation step forward, " Freese said.

In a letter shown to the superintendents, Roy Hinz, president of the foundation, emphasized that "the foundation is committed to keeping this life-altering school as a viable educational resource for not only next year but for many years to come. "

Superintendents strongly backed the school, Freese said, and their attitude was, "let 's run her another year. Everybody said, Good job. Let 's go. ' "

Freese said the long-term future of the school hinges largely on whether districts continue expanding their own alternative programs -- a trend that has caused enrollment to drop from 49 to 29 in the past two years.

When informed of the superintendents ' decision, Hinz called it "fantastic news. We 've been working really hard. It 's nice that everybody could come together for the kids. "

The foundation, Hinz said, will increase its efforts to obtain grants for Transition School while also sponsoring a golf tournament and other activities.