Work in progress
Work in progress
By Jerry W. Kram
The New Town High School just completed its first quarter under an innovative school calendar meant to boost students’ academic performance. High School Principal John Gartner said he has a “gut feeling” that the plan is working, but that he wants to see real statistics before he makes any recommendations to the New Town School Board.
The High School and Middle School were placed on the new calendar in October. Under the plan, student go to their regular classes Monday through Thursday. Students who are passing all their classes are allowed to take an advanced or elective class on Fridays. Students who are failing one or more classes spend the day working on catching up with their peers.
Gartner told the school board he has seen a number of promising signs from students, including have 40 students make the high school honor roll. Students who are struggling are much closer to passing grades then they have been in past years. He said most of those students would be passing with just a little more work, rather than having to make up large blocks of points.
