(Posted April 22, 2016)
By Amanda Amsel, Staff Writer
London middle schoolers will take some classes at the high school next year, but not all parents are on board with the idea.
“I just want you to know that not all middle school parents are thrilled with having their kids over at the high school,” said Valerie Peart, a mother of a middle school student, at the April 19 school board meeting. “I understand geometry will be taught at the high school. My question is, how is my child supposed to get back to the middle school for their extracurricular activities?”
Darryl Brown, school board president, also asked about the transportation issue.
“Are we busing them back and forth or is it their responsibility?” he asked.
Superintendent Lou Kramer said transportation arrangements are at the discretion of the board.
“That is something we will have to discuss,” Kramer said. “There are options, but there also are tradeoffs.”
Internships
The district is putting together a new internship program to be offered to high school students in the 2016-17 school year.
“(It) is still developing,” Kramer said. “However, in the coming weeks we will be able to provide a course guide and tell you a little more about our partners. It will start out as a pilot program with eight to 10 students.”
The program aims to provide students will real life work experience before graduating high school.
College Credits
Kramer reviewed the college credit courses the district will offer next year.
“In the high school, we will be offering college credit courses, as well as the AP classes we already offer,” Kramer said. “For a school of our size, that is pretty robust.”
The purpose is to give students additional opportunities and prepare them for college.
School board member Ed Mayor pointed out possible concerns with introducing college credit courses.
“The Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) has some concerns about this program,” he said. “Many students who are taking these classes will be seniors, and they have seen in other districts students not passing these classes. When they don’t pass these classes, it jeopardizes their graduation.”
Maynor also expressed concern about the cost to the district for the students to take these classes, as well as the fact that the district is responsible for paying for the students’ books for these classes.
Power of the Pen
“The students approached us with wanting to start up this activity again,” said Kirsten Witt, sixth-grade English teacher. “We ended up having four students qualify for state. In the 17 years I have been here, that has never happened.”
The next London school board meeting is scheduled for May 10.
