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Show District officials excited about alternative classroom concept CEDAR CITY A new dimension in education is coming to Iron County this fall and school officials are excited about the possibilities. An alternative school, housed in a two-classroom portable unit on the east side of the Cedar High campus, will be designed to attract two groups of students never before dealt with to this degree. The less motivated student who functions better' outside the conventional con-ventional high school classroom and the adult wishing to complete requirements for a diploma will be combined into a new program under the supervision of CHS Principal Vernile Matheson. "We hope to get the attention of a whole different group of students. We can offer them the flexibility of this program to attend as little or as much as they want, and the hours that are convenient," Matheson stated. The alternative school concept resulted for various reasons. The idea, engineered by Superintendent Clair Morris, was highly recommended by the 20-person study commission charged with looking into CHS overcrowding. over-crowding. Also, alarmed with this year's exceptionally ex-ceptionally high dropout rate of 55 students, the School Board was forced to take a good look at giving those people another chance to have a positive educational experience. In addition, the facilties used by the adult high school were being looked at for the future expansion of the middle school. The facility, under the direction of full-time teachers Macksene Jensen and Rebecca Pearson will be able to Individualize programs for the less motivated by supplying basic subjects, such as math and reading on their level. Matheson stressed many of the dropouts can't read well, causing embarassment among peers. The alternative school situation places student ability between only the teacher and student. Additionally, employed students can go to school as much as time allows. The school would be open days and most evenings. Adults working toward high school completion are offered more advantages ad-vantages in the resources of the high school such as counseling, testing, career Searches and opportunites to broaden their education bases by attending at-tending day classes in music, art, physical education and vocational classes. Matheson feels the portable classroom could accommodate about 200 students from full to minimal time. The adult program currently ranges from 65-90 students yearly and by recruiting from social services in the area could easily surpass that number. The adult proram now requires a student to be 18 years old and would help bridge the gap between a 16 year old dropout and the time they would have to wait until they were 18 years old. "This gives us permission to put a bowl around the whole thing and offer ' opportunities for everyone," Matheson said. School Board member John Taylor indicated the Board has been studying ways to give these people who nave been released from school other opportunites op-portunites and believes this will be the most effective wa& .,, The structure, which is expected to cost between $25,000 and $30,000 will be placed on 300 West. |