Graduation Project to be scrapped because of $$$?

[sshookup]

Mia-
Anyway to find out what Graduation Project costs Chatham County?  Other counties are scrapping if b/c the "educational
value does not equal the time/cost involved".  I don't have an opinion one way or the other but if teaching jobs could
be saved/added with funds from GP, then there's an argument there. 

[munn5]

There is nothing on Monday's school board agenda about the graduation project. The state originally made it a graduation requirement starting with this year's seniors. A year ago, the state deferred the requirement indefinitely because districts were concerned about the cost in the tight economy. Our board decided to keep it as a requirement.  It is in CCS policy as a graduation requirement, so it could not be scrapped without discussion and a vote to change the policy at two board meetings. So I don't see any indication the requirement will be changed.

The cost is fairly minimal. I think there is a small stipend to the graduation coordinators at each school. English teachers are incorporating part of the work (initial letter, research paper, practice for oral presentation) into the English courses. Chatham County Together has spent a good bit of money (much from a dropout prevention grant) to recruit, screen, train, and support mentors for at-risk seniors, but that is not public money.

I don't think scrapping the graduation project would save even one job.  I see a lot of value in the project. My big question is, how is the graduation rate affected. I've heard anecdotal evidence both ways, both kids staying in school because of the project (and their relationship with their mentor) and kids dropping out because they didn't want to make an oral presentation in front of strangers. I don't think one year's data is enough, but if the graduation rate is down this year, I would hope that they would try to address the problem of kids dropping out because of the project, and if it didn't rebound, then I would think about scrapping it unless the district could provide more support resources.

[NHSParent]

Even if the money is minimal the graduation project - i would like to see dropped.

[Snowball]

Even if the money is minimal the graduation project - i would like to see dropped.

Reasons?

[misstori]

Several students spoke at a Board meeting a few months ago.  They shared what they learned through the process of the project and how it helped them grow. 

Chatham County Together was also there, I believe.  I remember someone saying that a grant was not going to be renewed.  That could be a problem.  It can't be easy finding community mentors and matching them to students.  It certainly takes time. 

[munn5]

Even if CCT doesn't get another grant, they now have a base of more than 100 volunteers who have been screened and have been through orientations and the whole process once. I know that I will mentor again, either through CCT or directly through one of the schools. Plus, most kids found their mentors on their own.

[Snowball]

You have to be screened to mentor?  My brother mentored and was never screened or talked to anyone at the CCS. They
were using some serious power tools and I asked him "what is the liability here if this kid gets hurt on your property while
doing a mandatory school project?".  As a "volunteer" does he have to meet the same requirements as other volunteers? I know
for sports you have to have a back ground check. I don't think the school even had his phone number. He said he never
signed anything.
But nothing happened and the project was successful. We talked about it afterward and I don't think he will do it again because
of the unanswered questions above and concern over someone getting hurt at his shop.

The 100 or so volunteer mentors who were matched with students through Chatham County Together (a non-profit mentoring organization) were screened. Others were not.  The vast majority of students secured their own mentors.

[munn5]

and parents have to sign off that they approve of the mentor, so for mentors not through CCT, the parents are responsible for making sure the person is ok. In terms of liability, if a student is on your property using your tools, then there would (I believe) be the same liability as any other person on your property using your tools. Volunteering is a risk (one I'm willing to take).

[rickrack]

there are about 190 graduating seniors.  If CCT found around 100 mentors, how did the vast majority of students find their own?  Did some of hte mentors CCT screened not end up mentoring?

[munn5]

There are about 450 graduating seniors combined at Northwood, Chatham Central, Jordan-Mathews, and SAGE. CCT provided mentors for at risk students at all of this schools.

[Snowball]

Here's further clarification. Personnel at each of the high schools provided CCT with a list of students who were considered at-risk. These students were then matched with screened mentors. Other students secured their own mentors with their parents' permission.

CCT mentors received mentor training prior to being matched with their students. CCT mentors and their mentees received support from CCT's two project coordinators in the form of workshops and meetings that were designed to clarify the process and assist in the completion of the project. Funds for this endeavor came from a one-time grant from the state of NC.

[rickrack]

ooooooh, guess I betrayed my bias

[munn5]

After tonight's meeting, I asked Mr. Logan specifically if there were any plans to stop the graduation project. He said no, and that the projects have been very successful.

[NHSParent]

After tonight's meeting, I asked Mr. Logan specifically if there were any plans to stop the graduation project. He said no, and that the projects have been very successful.

Even if money is minimal, that "minimal amount" could be used for positions considered to be removed.

[Snowball]

Chatham County Schools spent no money on the graduation project this past year, and I see no plans to do differently for the coming year.

[Tags:]

Jump to: Please select a destination: ----------------------------- Chatham County Online ----------------------------- => Chatham County Online => Chatham County Schools => Chatham County Food & Drink => Chatham County Music & Arts => Chatham Community Calendar => Free Classifieds & Help Wanted Ads => Noah's Ark - All Creatures Great & Small. => Neighbor to Neighbor => Gardening and Agriculture => Chatham County Real Estate => North Carolina => This, That and Everything Else