News Headlines
Source: Messenger, Madisonville, July 25, 2010
School district prepares academy for at-risk students
By Lori Harrison
Installation of computer wiring and development of policies are among preparations taking place before the opening of the new Hopkins County Schools Academy.
The alternative school will be located at 150 School Ave., which was most recently part of Madisonville Community College’s technology campus.
The academy is aimed at high school students who lack credits needed to graduate, those who need a “less than traditional setting” and those needing individualized programs.
“The whole purpose of it is to reach students we’ve not been able to reach, for whatever reason, in a regular school,” said Deputy Superintendent Linda Zellich.
The academy is modeled after similar programs in other Kentucky school districts.
The Kentucky Department of Education recently approved Hopkins County’s request to start the academy, which will be classified as a separate school for purposes of test score reporting.
“The program is voluntary, but we may contact some people to see if they would be interested in attending,” Zellich said.
The half-day, computer-based program will run two sessions, from 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m.
The academy will take the place of On-Track, a program that had been housed at Adolescent Day Treatment at Anton. ADT will continue to operate.
The draft guidelines call for students and parents to sign a contract before admission. Students will not be allowed to re-enroll in their high school in the same year.
The district will not provide transportation.
But students who have drivers licenses may seek permission to drive themselves to school.
The program will be half-day because six hours is too long for students to sit and work at a computer, Zellich said.
“We also hope to eventually put some sort of cooperative work experience in there,” she said. That could involve employment or volunteer work.
The school will likely follow a semester schedule, rather than a trimester.
“It’s set up so you can graduate half a semester early,” said Superintendent James Lee Stevens.
The academy is not expected to be operating when school starts on Aug. 11.
“There will have to be an application process,” Zellich said. “It will take a while to build the program.
“I think we’re going to start kind of small, with just one area,” she said.
Nine computers are being installed in the first classroom. Plans call for 24 computers to be installed in the larger of the two classrooms.
Hopkins County Schools is leasing the front wing of the vocational/technical building for $1,500 per month. The one-year lease is renewable. The front wing offers about 6,000 square feet.
The space includes two classrooms, a meeting room, break area, six office spaces and an entryway.
“We’ll fix this as a nice reception area with seating, TV, a nice place for the students,” said Director of Facilities Steve Gilliam. “It’s my understanding they want it to be a relaxed atmosphere, (with students) working at their own pace.”
Workers have shampooed carpets, and stripped and waxed the tile floors. Some furniture has also been moved in. The technology staff is installing wiring for computers and telephones, as well as a security system.
Office space will be used by Pam Todd, principal of the planned Career and Technical Center; Kitty Davis, who is helping coordinate plans for the center; Gifted and Talented program resource teachers Debbie Rickard and Ron Watson; and academy teachers.
Todd will assume principalship responsibilities for the academy.
Pete Phelan will be the lead teacher, with David Darnall also serving as an instructor.
“It’s all going to be web-based and technology, with some supplemental help from those two teachers,” Zellich said.
They will also operate the Continuing and Reviving Education Program there in the evenings.
“It’s a credit recovery type program, to help them get credits needed to graduate,” Zellich said.
She expects the academy will enroll its first students within the first few weeks of school. A contact number for the academy will be released soon.