Dropout rate remains high
The dropout rate at Marion High School is the worst in recent memory, school officials said Monday at the meeting of Marion-Florence board of education.
Principal Ken Arnhold said the Class of 2002 started with 52 students as freshmen. He hopes 34 graduate.
Most of those who have left, 13, dropped out of school.
Arnhold said there are a few similarities among the dropouts.
"The main things I see is that they have struggled going back to elementary school, and that they were not involved in school," he said.
Poor attendance was a factor, and some had legal trouble. A few had parents who shrugged off attendance issues or made excuses for their children.
Often, students who left told Arnhold they just didn't fit in with classmates, so they didn't participate in activities. Since they weren't successful in school or having fun, they wanted to enter the work force.
"They're in a hurry to grow up," Arnhold said. "They see a minimum-wage job and figure if they work 40 hours a week, they'll be in hog heaven."
The problem, he said, is that students who don't go to school or fit in with classmates probably won't go to work or fit in with co-workers.
"I'm amazed at the number of these kids who have quit or been fired from three or four jobs in high school," he said. "When you can't put down a part-time, minimum-wage job as a reference, that's a bad sign."
The school did create a student success team, made up of teachers who meet each week to discuss ways to help students who are struggling. The program was started by at-risk coordinator Pam Speaks, but that position has been cut due to budget constraints.
"I appreciate the two years I've had in this position, but I hate that we have a huge number of kids in the district who are not succeeding," Speaks said Monday. She will be reassigned to an elementary school classroom.
Arnhold said each class has a different personality, and not all classes have high rates. But he and others at the school want any suggestions, particularly from people who know of successful dropout-prevention skills at other public schools.
Renovation
A project that school officials said would be impossible will take place this summer.
The board hired Home Elevator, Wichita, to install a lift in Hill School for $27,700. It will provide access to the second floor for students and staff members who are temporarily or permanently disabled.
When first requested several months ago, administrators said the project wouldn't be acceptable due to cost, changes to the historic building, or blocking access to the stairwell in an emergency. None have proven insurmountable.
Henderson and Tice visited schools with lifts. They are usable only with a special key. They move up stairs and around corners.
Plans are to install the system this summer in time for classes next fall.
Budget issues
Base state aid for next year may stay the same or be decreased. In either case, it means fewer dollars for the district because of declining enrollment.
Because two elementary school teachers resigned Monday (Danae Flaming and Julie Schlesener), the district won't have to non-renew teacher contracts for budget reasons if state aid remains the same. If state aid decreases, cutting staff remains an option, Henderson said.
"The only place we can cut is people," he said. "There are districts that have issued non-renewal notices to all non-tenured teachers already, saying they hope to hire them back when they know what the legislature will do."
State law requires teachers to receive non-renewal notification by May 1. It isn't clear if the Legislature will finalize its budget issues by then.
The long-term issue is that teachers tired of budget battles simply find other jobs.
"You lose your best people, because they don't want to wait on you, and because they're the best, they can find jobs elsewhere," Henderson said.
The district could gut its extra-curricular activities and elective programs, which would eliminate staff positions and supply costs. Administrators and board members said such wide-ranging cuts would harm education and probably lead to even deeper cuts in enrollment.
Board members said there is a worst-case scenario: The state approves payment at a certain level without generating enough money to pay for them. The state then would cut its portion of school aid, leaving districts without the funds to operate or the legal authority to raise money immediately.
"We would close the doors and go home, and that's not a joke," Henderson said. "If we have no money to pay our bills or pay our employees, what choice do we have?"
Districts are prohibited from maintaining "rainy day" savings accounts except in a few areas, such as capital outlay. General operating costs don't count. Some districts had extensive savings, but they were ordered to spend the funds or face a proportionate decline in state aid.
Most (including Marion-Florence USD) used the money to renovate or build new facilities.
Henderson said the prospect of the state cutting aid in the middle of the year is reality — state aid payments are running a month behind due to cash-flow problems.
"I wonder if the Legislature's paychecks are being withheld, too," member Susan Robson asked sardonically.
In other reports:
Board members approved work-study requests for next year for students Joanna McGinness, Paul Wilcox, Tyler Miesse, Matt Berg, and Jarvis Whiteman. Students wanting a work-study program must present their request to the board, explaining how they will use their time.
Members emphasized that students must maintain grades and be available for spot checks to ensure they are at their job when they are supposed to be.
The board approved up to $50,000 in computer replacement in the district. About 60 to 65 units will be replaced. Most had been upgraded four years ago but no longer function properly.
