Keeping kids in school a top priority

Last updated 3/23/1999 at Noon

More than 6 percent of Sisters students dropped out of school last year.

While the Sisters dropout rate is slightly lower than the state average of 6.9 percent, Sisters educators do not take much reassurance from the numbers.

"Any dropouts are too many," said Sisters Superintendent of Schools Steve Swisher.

The 1997-98 dropout rate of 6.63 percent was up a fraction from the previous year's 6.27 percent - not a statistically significant jump, according to Swisher. During the same period, the states drop out rate increased to 6.9 from 6.7 percent.

Sisters High school counselor Charlie Kanzig agreed with the assessment of Stan Bunn, state schools superintendent, that a perceived lack of relevance in curriculum and job opportunities are the major factors motivating dropouts.

In a strong economy, Kanzig noted, teen-agers "can work before they get their diploma and make what seems to them to be decent wages instead of sitting in a classroom."

The task for counselors, Kanzig said, is to show the potential dropout that quitting school for work is not a good long-term move. The schools try to intervene when teachers and counselors see students having problems.

"We have an alternative school that catches kids who, in the past, would have probably dropped out," Kanzig said.

The FLEX alternative school serves from 15 to 30 students over the course of a year, Kanzig said. FLEX offers a 22 credit state diploma instead of requiring 26 credits as does the Sisters High School diploma. FLEX operates a part-day program that also allows students to work.

"A lot of kids who wind up in these situations want to work," Kanzig said.

Kanzig also said that a project in the works to turn the former Desertronics circuit board manufacturing business into a student-operated vocational training business could be "the best thing yet to make (school relevant)" for potential dropouts.

Sisters' dropouts don't necessarily end up with nothing, Kanzig emphasized. He said many - if not most - dropouts earn a General Equivalency Degree (GED).

Both Kanzig and Swisher noted that Sisters has a very high percentage of college-bound students.

"Sisters is unique in that we have so many professionals as parents," Kanzig said. He believes those parents set high educational expectations for their children.

"We're a college prep school more than we are otherwise," he said.

But 20 to 25 percent of Sisters students are not college-bound, Kanzig noted. Kanzig said that the new high school principal Boyd Keyser, who starts work in July, has a strong interest in serving those students.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.