Shenendehowa High School interim principal Frank Tedesco identified concerns with the school’s student service model at the Shenendehowa Central School District’s board of education meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 12.
What I have heard from parents and students is a disappointment in the availability of counselors, said Tedesco.
In 2004, small learning communities were created within Shenendehowa High School to foster stronger relationships between students and key staff. Using this model, teams of administrators, counselors, psychologists and nurses were assigned to grade levels to support students throughout their high school experience. Once a class graduates, staff and administrators are assigned to a new ninth-grade class.
According to Tedesco, the model has created stronger relationships between staff and students; however, counselors have been challenged by having to re-learn curricula and programs such as the college admissions process.
`College admissions paper-work takes staff away from students,` said Tedesco. `It’s hard when counselors are serving 250 students.`
In his recommendations, Tedesco suggested using a fixed team of administrators to work with ninth-graders for three or four years while maintaining grade-level rotations for staff who work with students in the 10th through 12th grades.
District superintendent L. Oliver Robinson suggested that the board look at separating ninth-grade students and assess the situation for students in the 10th through 12th grades.
`We need to look at separation of ninth-grade students because it’s an immediate issue,` Robinson said. `We have time to assess the piece for the 10th through 12th grades.`
Robinson also said that the student service plan is due for an update in May.
Some students and parents have had their own concerns about grade-level assignments. According to student association representative, Courtney Neber, students felt that the new model limited their choices.
`Students have been concerned about the limiting of choices. They don’t want to be assigned to someone they don’t collaborate well with,` Neber said.
Shenendehowa PTA president Julianne Davis said that some parents were worried that grade-level assignments would keep their children from seeing their friends. However, Davis said that her high-school-age son has not been affected.
`My son, Christopher, doesn’t seem to be bothered by the small learning communities,` said Davis.
Associate principals, Claire Brown and Chris Culnan, presented an alternative education plan that they said would offer more flexibility for at-risk students.
`The curriculum would be delivered with the needs of individuals in mind,` said Brown.
According to Brown, students who fail a course often have to repeat a grade. Through a concept called semestering, the plan would allow at-risk students to earn smaller incremental units toward graduation without having to repeat a grade.
`Our aim is to bring these students into the mainstream,` said Brown.
The alternative education plan also features a twilight school, which would offer instruction to students who have been suspended for five days or fewer. That is, students would no longer receive home tutoring and would be able to get instruction at the high school after 3 p.m. `Instructing students at home is too costly, and teachers are separated from students,` Brown said.
In other news, Donald Flynt was appointed as the new principal of Shenendehowa High School at a salary of $121, 500. Flynt, who is superintendent of the Stillwater Central School District, has also served as principal at Stillwater middle and high schools.
`We found that Mr. Flynt was extremely supportive of the students and had extensive program development experience,` said assistant superintendent Michael Dutkowsky. “