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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2017)
Polk County Education 14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 15, 2017 Dallas targets grad rate increases By Jolene Guzman ACADEMIC HONORS The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Dallas School District’s graduation rate was on par with the state av- erage, about 75 percent, and its five-year completer rate is five percentage points bet- ter than the average. District officials are devel- oping strategies to improve its four-year rates and get more students who don’t complete on time to the fin- ish line. Of the 55 students who didn’t complete require- ments in four years, 22 have enrolled this year to earn their diploma. “That is a testament to our Morrison program, that the students are willing to come back that fifth year and fin- ish. It’s a testament to even our high school program,” said Steve Martinelli, the di- rector of instructional servic- es. “These students aren’t afraid to come back and complete their fifth year as opposed to dropping out.” This year, the district and high school staff will begin the process of contacting students who fall short earli- er to encourage them to stay on to earn their diploma. “The idea is if we can catch them now instead of waiting until the beginning of next year, maybe we can get them going again sooner before they get further behind,” Martinelli said. “It will be less OSU lists fall student honor roll JOHN SCHULTE/ Itemizer-Observer file Dallas School District’s graduation rate was on par with the state average. of a job for us in the fall.” Martinelli said there’s a 20 percent gap between the graduation rates of students who are considered eco- nomically disadvantaged — determined by whether stu- dents qualify for free or re- duced-priced lunches — and those who are not. Eco- nomically disadvantaged students graduated on time at 64 percent, while students not in that category graduat- ed at 84 percent. He said the district will re- search ways to identify and provide help to those stu- dents. Next year the district is beginning the AVID (Ad- vancement Via Individual Determination) program, which uses teaching strate- gies and elective classes to prepare students for college or careers after high school. He added the district needs to focus on continued outreach to students at risk of falling through the cracks. “Last year, (Superinten- dent) Michelle (Johnstone) and I actually drove around a little bit … and she would knock on doors and leave her card saying, ‘We want you in school; why aren’t you in school?” Martinelli said. “If our mission is every stu- dent earns a meaningful diploma, then it’s pretty im- portant that we are out there banging on doors and show- ing that we serious about our mission.” DHS drafts Measure 98 funding plan By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Plans for using Measure 98 funding for career and technical ed- ucation at Dallas High School are tak- ing shape. Last November, voters in Oregon passed Measure 98, which provides $800 per each student at the state’s high schools for career technical edu- cation, dropout prevention and college and career preparation. Each district is required to submit a plan for spending the money in those three areas. DHS Principal Steve Spencer pre- sented his two-year draft plan, which anticipates a lower level of funding than $800 per student, to the Dallas School Board Monday. “Right now, we are planning on about half of the $800 that was in the ballot measure,” Spencer said. “If we are antici- pating about a thousand kids, that would be about $400,000 per year of the bienni- um.” The plan includes funding for: a ca- reers coordinator; AVID program imple- mentation; a career and technical edu- cation teacher and math coordinator at Morrison Campus Alternative School; funding for contracting with Chemeketa Community College faculty to teach classes; and year two facilities upgrades. “The plan itself is still flexible enough to allow us to do additional things, but it’s a general framework that we want to make sure we keep you ap- prised on as we work to apply for and get those Measure 98 funds,” Spencer said to the board. “They will be critical for us moving forward.” CORVALLIS — Names of students who have made the Scholastic Honor Roll Fall term have been announced by Ore- gon State University. A total of 1,234 students earned straight-As (4.0.) Another 4,343 earned a B-plus (3.5) or better to make the listing. To be on the Honor Roll, students must carry at least 12 graded hours of course work. Students on the Honor Roll included: POLK Dallas: Straight-A Average: — Charles J. Drake, Post Baccalaureate, Pre-Forestry; Janet H. Ferguson, senior, Chemistry; Jacob R. Shryer, sophomore, Pre-Mechanical Engineering. 3.5 or Better — Tyler J. Curtis, junior, Forest Engineering; Lindsay A. Golly, freshman, Pre-Forestry; Emily A. Lund, senior, Public Health; Megan L. Mahoney, senior, Digital Communica- tion Arts; Everett L. Minahan, freshman, Pre-Civil Engineering. David B. Rebischke, junior, Mechanical Engineering. Falls City: Straight-A Average — Caleb J. Schmidt, senior, Mechanical Engineering. Independence: Straight-A Average — Jennifer L. Barker, junior, Social Sci- ence. 3.5 or Better — Robert W. Cruze, senior, Earth Sciences; Alexxa D. Gonzalez, sophomore, Psychology; Matthew G. Grandquist, junior, Biology; Megan R. Marchand, senior, Agri- cultural Sciences; Brett W. Meador, freshman, Pre-Mechanical Engineering Kyle J. Miller, freshman, Fisheries and Wildlife Sci- ence; Troy V. Tyma, senior, Physics. Monmouth: Straight-A Average — Makayla R. Kachlein, junior, Animal Sciences; Trevor Nash, sophomore, Biology; Anne C. Snell, jun- ior, Human Devel and Family Science. 3.5 or Better — Hanna R. Brown, sophomore, BioHealth Sci- ences; Karlie J. Holmgren, senior, Pre-Business; Nathan P. Knight, freshman, Animal Sciences; Koryn J. Murphy, senior, Pre-Public Health; Brionna H. Poppitz, senior, English. Abbie E. Potts, sophomore, BioHealth Sciences; Tyler D. Riggan, senior, Elect & Computer Engineering; Rachel F. Steele, senior, Anthro- pology; Emily F. Wells, senior, Sociology. Rickreall: 3.5 or Better — Jenna Drader, senior, Nutrition; Bridget H. Regan, senior, Zoology. SCHOOL NOTES KVCS is collecting prom clothing PHILOMATH — Kings Valley Charter School, 38840 Kings Val- ley Highway, Philomath, is collecting prom dresses and you men’s dress clothes to offer kids to borrow for dances, proms and professional events. Gently used men’s dress shirts, ties, slacks, dress shoes and prom dresses are needed. KVCS is also looking for kindergarten through fifth grade size pants and shirts for kids who get muddy or wet. Kings Valley is also looking for supplies and volunteers to help with the school’s garden. Netting bags that fruit come in to make bird nesting material hangers, left over outdoor paint to make signs for the garden and volunteers to finish installing fencing are needed. All donations to the school garden are tax deductible. For more information: 541-929-2134.