Working to keep kids in school
By Frank Bradley Sentinel writer

Recognizing the importance of high school graduation, Clay County Schools will soon be targeting prospective dropouts to keep them engaged in their studies and mentoring them to stay in school, thanks to a $150,000 state grant.

On Monday, Assistant Superintendent Mark Leek told the school board that Clay County was one of 60 schools across the state to be awarded a Dropout Prevention Grant, which was authorized and funded with $7 million by the General Assembly to help improve North Carolina high school graduation rates.

"There are a lot of different reasons why a student drops out," Leek said. "Existing research reveals that often the decision to dropout is made when the student is in Middle School."

He explained that this prospective dropout student then bides his time until he turns 16 and can legally quit school. It is estimated that about 10 percent of students are at risk of dropping out before graduation.

Superintendent Scott Penland told the board that while Clay County has one of the lowest school dropout rates in the state, having even one student not graduating from high school is one too many.

The grant reads that Clay County Schools will receive the money to provide needed support for middle and high school students that will focus on a mentoring program, job placement, dual enrollment at the community college, participation in the sublimation enterprise, tutoring, career counseling and technology opportunities.

Leek said the program will include 6th graders as well as 7th and 8th graders and high school students.

"They ((potential dropouts) will be assigned adult mentors," he said. "Someone the student identifies with. If need be, we will offer some program they are interested in. We will increase their technology access from more than just the 8 to 3 on school days, work with them on dual enrollment with Tri- County Community College and also help them with job placement. Match them up with people who are doing or know something about what they want to do." Leek told the board that some things are already in place and would just be extended. Some new programs would be created.

"The key is getting it into the Middle School," he said.

Penland agreed saying, "That's when they start to dropout. It's just a formality when are in high school."

"While our dropout rate is not high compared to the rest of the state, we have a graft showing our dropout rate rose last year," he said. "It appears we have an upward trend," he said.

"I anticipate 40 in high school and a conservative estimate of 40 in grades 6 through 8," Penland said.

There were 300 applications across the state for this grant. In our seven western county region, only Clay, Graham and Swain county school systems were awarded the grant.

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