SCS Starting Program to Help Struggling Students

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie Central School is starting a new program to aid struggling high school students through a very non-traditional way.

Superintendent David Blanchard outlined a PM School for Secondary Students at the January 16 school board meeting.

The PM School will serve secondary students, Mr. Blanchard said. "We plan to start with four students and feel that the program will have capacity for no more than 10 students. We posted for STA (Schoharie Teachers Association) members and will pay for this out of the general fund as it will be offset from other line items we have when students are struggling in school."

School administrators and the counseling staff have been meeting on the "school" which will be run from 2:30 to 5:30pm for students who have been struggling to stay in school and classes. The students will not be attending school during the regular school day. Mr. Blanchard said it is hoped to start the program "right away" probably at the beginning of the next marking period.

The students will be selected by the core classroom teachers.

The hopes are to meet the students' needs, keep them in school, and follow the required curriculum.

The program is "used in other schools," Mr. Blanchard said. "We still have a lot to learn."

A similar program has been used in "credit recovery" programs for students to make up classes that they have failed or missed.

Teachers and staff would provide extra support to students, if needed.