Now in its sixteenth year, North Callaway High School Principal Carol Green said the district's alternative school program continues to have a positive impact for students.
During her report to the school board during Thursday night's regular meeting, Carol pointed out that even lower enrollment is evidence that the alternative school is doing its job.
"We have graduated over 130 students out of the program - eight this year," Green said. "We have continued to recoup kids who might otherwise not have graduated."
Green said the alternative school had 21 students - who recovered a total of 80 credits - enrolled during the 2011-12 school year, compared to the 40 to 50 students when the program was just started.
Part of that decrease, she said, is due at least in part to the district's RTI (Response to Intervention) and credit recovery programs.
"We catch them before they have to go to the alternative school," Green said.
She said the 37 students in credit recovery - which enables students to make up credits in classes they have failed - during the 2011-12 school year recovered 22 credits.
"Both of those programs are very important, and have done significant things with the dropout rate and graduation," Green concluded.
In other business, Ben Taylor and John Rau with the Strategic Planning Committee gave the board an update on a survey the group is planning to distribute to district patrons regarding their expectations and goals for the district.
In preparation for developing the survey, committee members conducted interviews with a small but broad cross-section of district patrons to get a better idea for what their priorities and concerns are.