Published: December 12, 2007 11:58 am      

Academic villages working out in county schools

CUMBERLAND - The concept of helping troubled students get the behavioral help they need - while staying alongside their peers in the academic schedule - appears to be working.

The Allegany County Board of Education was told Tuesday during its work session the number of students enrolled in the Alternative School have dropped dramatically in the first nine weeks of the school year compared to the same time last year.

Creating academic villages, where needy students get the one-on-one instruction, counseling and intervention they need in their home school, keeps students "in the mainstream."

That's a good thing, said Jim Koon, principal of the alternative school.

Kim Green, assistant principal at Fort Hill High School, said academic villages have helped to provide an "academic continuum" between students who express behavioral issues in one or more classes and their peers in those regular classrooms.

"The feedback (from teachers) is very positive," Green said.

Students assigned to academic villages remain the responsibility of their homeroom teacher.

"I think the teachers, so far, have been very good about going in the academic villages during their planning periods," Green said.

During that time, students get even more help on a particular subject if they need it. It all helps to ensure a successful experience and a smooth transition back to the classroom, Green said.

It keeps those students "actively engaged" with what their peers are doing in the regular classroom, Green said.

She also said the villages have "helped to reduce the number of days students miss school."

School officials noted that attendance for at-risk students were generally lower than their counterparts. But their attendance figures so far this year, compared to attendance at the alternative school, are better.

Only 39 students were enrolled in alternative school, Koon indicated in a report. There were 83 students in the first marking period last year, he said.

In the fall of 2006, Koon said there were 350 referrals for students to attend the alternative school. This year, that number has dropped to 136 referrals.

The program "makes so much sense," said board member Tom Striplin. "I think we're really doing the right thing there."

Superintendent Bill AuMiller admitted there's room for improvement. So far, however, the effort seems to be worthwhile.

Board member Jane Dawson expressed concern that she was told academic villages would be staffed with certified teachers, not teacher assistants. Some school principals, however, have said that's not necessary.

At Mount Savage School and Westmar Middle School, the number of students in academic villages don't merit the designation, AuMiller said.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.