VASHON HS IMPROVEMENT PLAN MOVES FRESHMEN TO NEW ACADEMY, BRINGS ELIGIBLE SENIORS TO COLLEGE, STARTING JAN. 17

(ST. LOUIS) January 12, 2006 -- St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Creg E. Williams today unveiled an action plan that will significantly enhance the quality of education at Vashon High School. These are the first in a series of district wide moves planned for the coming months to improve the learning environment at all of the District’s high schools.

On Tuesday January 17, the entire freshman class of 266 ninth graders, along with their teachers and an administrator, will move out of the Vashon building and into a separate learning center in the nearby Williams School, which is currently vacant.

At the same time, approximately 65 seniors who are on track to graduate will get an exceptional introduction to college life. They will begin taking high school and college-level classes five days a week at the University of Missouri, St. Louis (UMSL) and Ranken Technical College.

Dr. Williams said he was taking the steps now because he had determined that quick, decisive action was required to enhance the quality of Vashon students’ education. “I believe in our students, and I know they can do well. But it is painfully obvious that our high schools must do a better job of preparing them for their future. We simply don’t have the luxury of making gradual change over a long period of time. We need to act now.”

Placing freshman students in small, separate academy settings and introducing seniors to college level coursework have proved to be successful strategies in numerous urban districts around the nation, Dr. Williams noted.

Ninth Graders: The new ninth grade center in Williams School, located at 3955 St. Ferdinand Avenue, will provide stronger instruction and more individual attention. About 15 teachers will move with the children. The students will attend class full time in an academy-like setting for the remainder of the school year and will return to Vashon for 10th grade in August. They will receive extra coursework in math and English. JROTC and physical education will continue.

Seniors: Four teachers and one site administrator will accompany the seniors onto the UMSL and Ranken campuses, fours days and one day a week, respectively. Each morning, the students will continue high school-level studies with their current Vashon teachers, but on a college campus. After lunch-hour seminar sessions on preparing for college life, they will take college-level courses – with college professors – in sociology and anthropology. The students will earn six college credit hours, which can be transferred to any college or university in the country.

Lunchtime “brown bag” seminars will focus on such key pre-college topics as applying for financial aid and learning to adjust to college life. Current UMSL students will participate in these sessions. At Ranken, Vashon seniors will also participate in a career exploration program known as “National Career Pathways.”

Both UMSL and Ranken have waived many of the costs normally associated with running programs of this nature, and Dr. Williams expressed his deep appreciation to both institutions. “UMSL and Ranken Technical College have brought a true spirit of generosity and partnership to this effort, and they are helping to change young peoples’ lives for the better,” he said.

Vashon this year has already formed parent patrols, a crisis team, a response team, and a Parent Teacher Organization.

Dr. Williams stressed, “These have been positive steps, but we must now address the core issue of how, what and where the students are being taught.”

Dr. Williams also said he will introduce changes at Roosevelt High School later this year, and that he is currently reviewing all other district high schools to determine where restructuring or reorganization is needed.