Board debates sites for program
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 14, 2016 1:46 PM
Teaching high schoolers leadership skills and reducing teen pregnancies could be valuable for Wayne County Public Schools, school board members said at their monthly meeting -- but it's a message for students at all high schools.
Two schools in the district have the opportunity to introduce Peer Group Connection, a peer leadership and high school transition program, in the fall. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health has awarded a grant to the Center for Supportive Schools, or CSS, which chose Goldsboro and Eastern Wayne high schools for the pilot program.
Dean Sauls, assistant superintendent for support services/athletics, told the board that a local school had already had success with the program.
"I had some experience with this the past six years at Rosewood High School," said the former principal of the school. "I had worked with Dr. Sherry Barr (of CSS) and she was looking to expand in Wayne County."
Sauls called it a "very good program" that comes at no cost to the district. The estimated $5,000 cost pays for training teachers and students with potential leadership qualities to serve as mentors and "big brother/big sister" roles.
CSS had recommended the two schools based on upon data received, he said -- leadership would be the emphasis at Eastern Wayne and the teen pregnancy prevention component at GHS. Being a larger school, he recommended Eastern Wayne offered it over two semesters, he added.
Board member Dwight Cannon asked how those particular schools were chosen when there are other high schools that might also benefit.
"Goldsboro was selected because it was one of these low-performing schools and this is the one that Dr. Barr wanted to put there," Sauls said. "Eastern Wayne is trying to re-establish itself as one of the leading schools in Wayne County, and we thought the peer group leadership class had worked so well at Rosewood, it would work (at EW), too."
"Eastern Wayne is not the only high school trying to re-establish itself," Cannon said. "And I'm speaking for Southern Wayne, the people at that end. I'm sure that we would like to have a better image, because the problems you delineated really affect every school.
"I thought you would say it's funding, you know, but I don't know if you really have to have funding to do a mentoring peer group."
Cannon added that he believed the model is a good one, but felt strongly about its being implemented at schools beyond the two chosen.
Sauls said he agreed.
Board member Pat Burden said she had attended training sessions and been "highly impressed" by students who had served as mentors and those who had participated in the program. When it came down the schools picked, though, she also had concerns, she said.
Board member Eddie Radford, a former principal at Southern Wayne, also advocated for that school.
"I don't think there's another school in the county at this particular time that would need extra help more than Southern Wayne," he said. "I think that over the past couple years test scores, discipline, different things have occurred at that school, regardless of how hard the principal and teachers work. If we would do two sessions at Eastern Wayne and no sessions at Southern Wayne, and if we look at the predicament that school is in -- and it's getting worse -- I certainly think that we're letting down some kids over there."
By contrast to the argument that GHS is a low-performing school, Eastern Wayne is not, board members said.
"I agree with everything you said," Sauls said. "I think it should be in all of them."
Board Chairman Chris West proposed that since this is a pilot program, there is nothing that says the district cannot implement it elsewhere.
The $5,000 price tag for the training was one glitch, though, several said.
"We as a district would have to assume that responsibility," West said.
Board member Jennifer Strickland raised questions about the topics targeted at each of the chosen schools.
"GHS is going to have the focus on pregnancy prevention, those types of items. Eastern Wayne High School is going to focus on time management, decision-making, teamwork, those type items," she said, asking if there would be any type of "crossover" in the training at each school.
Cannon said that while it appears to be a worthwhile project, the issues are universal and not unique to any one school.
"People, I mean students at Southern Wayne and Goldsboro High need decision-making skills, also. And people, I mean students, at Eastern Wayne get pregnant, too," he said, evoking laughter and a smattering of applause from the audience.
"I needed to say it because it sounds like it was hand-picked that these were the issues, and the way I understand it, I've seen the same scenarios at every school, and I don't know how somebody can do that."
Ms. Burden said she believed the program would benefit all high schools, and middle schools if the funding allowed. She said she understands how pilot programs work and that selection is based upon one reason or another.
Cannon took issue with a sponsoring agent telling the district "what our schools need" just because they were putting up the money.
"I'm telling you that pregnancy is in every high school so to single out Goldsboro High to me sends a bad (message). It's just not true," he said. "There are some good kids at Goldsboro High, there are some kids who need help in Goldsboro High and in every high school."
West told Sauls since the board consensus favors offering such a program, it would be a good idea to pursue its being offered at every high school.
"When our time at Rosewood ran out, we kept it going because the 12 churches in the Rosewood area funded everything for us -- in the summertime, the family nights, and I'm sure that could be done at each of the schools," Sauls said.
While $5,000 is not a minimal cost, West said he would push for it to be considered by the district.
"We have a great new finance director, and I feel confident that he can find the money," he said.