Altamont Schools Working to Decrease Failure Rates

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Published on November 10 2015 11:30 am
Last Updated on November 10 2015 11:30 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Altamont school board members Monday heard about continuing efforts to reduce the number of high school students who are failing a class.

Principal Jerry Tkachuk said the rate moved from 15% at midterms to 11% at the end of the first quarter. The goal is to get the rate down to 8% by the end of the first semester.

Meanwhile, two teachers are starting a Peer Tutoring Program at the high school, which will match underperforming underclassmen with upperclassmen who will work them during Activity Period.

Tkachuk also suggested three new class proposals. In Agriculture, there is a desire to add a Horticulture/Landscaping course and a Veterinary Tech course. In Industrial Technology, there is a desire to add a Welding course. The Board will be asked for a vote on the requests at their December meeting.

District enrollment varies by building. Grade school enrollment is at 475, 20 fewer than last year at this point in the school year. High school enrollment is at 285, 24 more than one year ago.

Board members reviewed results of the annual Fire Marshal's inspection, a desire by Telescopic Bleacher Company to tap into the school district's bandwidth for the company, and a teachers institute planned in January that will include Altamont Lutheran Interparish School as a full partner.

In personnel action, the Altamont board approved a leave request from Marlene Perkins, and accepted resignations from Spanish teacher Emily Golden, effective immediately, and from junior high volleyball coach Bonnie Lester. Kelsey Leitschuh was approved to succeed Lester as junior high volleyball coach, and the Board reviewed a proposed itinerary for a 2017 Florida band trip.

Speaking of the band, they will be working as the Pep Band at the State Class 1A Volleyball Tournament this Friday. You can find a separate story on the trip elsewhere on the local news page.