New school policy takes effect
Positive results sprout from Intervention Plan
By Jerod Barker
September 20, 2007
A lot has changed this year, including new staff members, additions to the building, and a new name for the football field.
With all the alterations, one new policy has stood above the rest. This year, the administration launched a new "Intervention Plan."
Timothy Beikman, social science teacher, thought the new plan would produce positive results for students and teachers.
"I think it will help teachers to better help those students who may need the one-on-one assistance," Beikman stated. "Those will be the students that will be here during seminar getting the help they need."
Loren Ziegler, business teacher, had similar feelings on the subject.
"I think it will benefit both students and teachers," Ziegler stated. "Students who have done their work will not have to be at seminar and teachers won't have to deal with students who have nothing to do."
At the beginning of the year, all students in all grades were required to attend the first 35 minutes of every day. This rule was implemented until a month after school had started.
On Friday, Sept. 14, teachers ran grades at the end of the school day to determine who would be required to attend seminar the following week.
All students will be required to come to seminar on the first day of every school week, but for the rest of the week, students who have no missing assignments and no "D"s or "F"s in any of their classes have the option of skipping seminar and not coming to school until 8:35 a.m.
Students also have the option of using their extra time to catch up on study time in the library, exercising in the gym, watching news or a movie on the big screen televisions in the commons area, or seeking extra help from one of their teachers.
Senior Logan Pegram felt the change was unnecessary.
"I really don't think the intervention plan is needed. We're being rewarded for things we should already be achieving in the classroom," Pegram stated.
Each student's arrangement is not permanent. If a student who doesn't have to attend seminar neglects to turn in an assignment, or gets a "D" or "F" in any of his or her classes, the student will then be required to return to seminar the next week.
The same is true for students required to attend seminar. If they turn in their assignment or raise their grade above a D+, they will then be granted the option to skip seminar, though they will have to wait until the following week for the rule to take effect.
"I think it is a good plan that has proven to work in other schools," Ziegler explained. "It should also motivate students who are underachieving to gain the benefits of the system."
New school policy takes effect
Post your feedback on this topic here
| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| 09/20/2007 | I feel the new "Intervention Plan"... | Cheri Corwin |
