Rockwood School District: Rockwood Board Hears Update On Reimagining District's Alternative Learning Services

Press release from the Rockwood School District:

March 8, 2021

The Rockwood Board of Education heard a presentation from Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Terry Harris at its March 4 meeting, det​ailing the process the district will undertake as it seeks to update the alternative learning services provided to its students.Harris introduced PDFa six-phase plan to the board, starting with the recruitment of a Reimagining ALT Education Task Force to study ways in which district services can better meet the needs of students and schools.“We have to constantly re-evaluate our services to meet the needs of our students,” Harris said. “We’re going to make sure we have fresh new ideas to lead this work. The students’ needs have changed. The program’s focus has changed.”Since its opening in 1997, the Rockwood Indi​vidualized Learning Center (ILC) has provided a safe, student-centered environment where high school students and teachers share responsibility for learning as students prepare for graduation, develop good character and attain valuable life skills. Education has changed in the past 24 years since the launch of the district’s alternative learning school. Our Rockwood students, parents, teachers and administrators have all shared a need for more student services designed specifically for teens struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse and mental health disorders.In recent years, Rockwood has focused on implementing alternative learning structures, such as the Student Restore Program, Missouri Options Program, flexible scheduling and online course options. In addition, the district has invested in resources to meet the needs of our students’ social and emotional health, including school social workers, social-emotional behavior specialists and school guidance counselors.“What the high school principals are sharing is the need for social-emotional supports for our students.” Harris said. “They have the support systems in place to meet the academic needs of students. What they’re struggling with is the mental and emotional supports.”The Reimagining ALT Education Task Force, led by Harris, will include teachers, administrators, men​tal health professionals, students, parents, social workers and counselors. Task force members will research, analyze and eventually propose ways in which Rockwood’s alternative learning program can best supplement services already provided by students’ home high schools.The task force plans to keep the community updated on its progress over the coming months and present a final proposal to the Board of Education in Jan. 2022. The proposed launch date for the district’s new alternative learning plan is the 2022-2023 school year.As the task force completes its work, a short-term transition plan will help guide students and staff:

• During the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year, the ILC is continuing to accept new students but limiting enrollment to those students who will complete graduation requirements by the end of the semester. 
• For the 2021-2022 school year, students enrolled in the ILC will work with the staff and administration to create a personalized transition plan, which may include a variety of learning structures. This would include enrollment in classes at one of the four high schools, virtual learning, the Student Restore Program or partial day schedules to accommodate individual needs. 
• Current staff members will serve as facilitators for virtual learning and credit recovery programming for students at any of the four high schools.

“It’s a pause. There is no plan to close the ILC and never to open the school up again,” Harris said. “This is solely based on how we can meet the needs of our students in 2021 and beyond.”Superintendent Dr. Mark Miles said he fully supports the plan to reimagine Rockwood’s alternative learning services.“I believe the needs of our children are evolving,” Miles said. “We are determined to provide the best comprehensive and robust services possible."​

The Rockwood Board of Education heard a presentation from Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Terry Harris at its March 4 meeting, det​ailing the process the district will undertake as it seeks to update the alternative learning services provided to its students.Harris introduced PDFa six-phase plan to the board, starting with the recruitment of a Reimagining ALT Education Task Force to study ways in which district services can better meet the needs of students and schools.“We have to constantly re-evaluate our services to meet the needs of our students,” Harris said. “We’re going to make sure we have fresh new ideas to lead this work. The students’ needs have changed. The program’s focus has changed.”Since its opening in 1997, the Rockwood Indi​vidualized Learning Center (ILC) has provided a safe, student-centered environment where high school students and teachers share responsibility for learning as students prepare for graduation, develop good character and attain valuable life skills. Education has changed in the past 24 years since the launch of the district’s alternative learning school. Our Rockwood students, parents, teachers and administrators have all shared a need for more student services designed specifically for teens struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse and mental health disorders.In recent years, Rockwood has focused on implementing alternative learning structures, such as the Student Restore Program, Missouri Options Program, flexible scheduling and online course options. In addition, the district has invested in resources to meet the needs of our students’ social and emotional health, including school social workers, social-emotional behavior specialists and school guidance counselors.“What the high school principals are sharing is the need for social-emotional supports for our students.” Harris said. “They have the support systems in place to meet the academic needs of students. What they’re struggling with is the mental and emotional supports.”The Reimagining ALT Education Task Force, led by Harris, will include teachers, administrators, men​tal health professionals, students, parents, social workers and counselors. Task force members will research, analyze and eventually propose ways in which Rockwood’s alternative learning program can best supplement services already provided by students’ home high schools.The task force plans to keep the community updated on its progress over the coming months and present a final proposal to the Board of Education in Jan. 2022. The proposed launch date for the district’s new alternative learning plan is the 2022-2023 school year.As the task force completes its work, a short-term transition plan will help guide students and staff:

• During the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year, the ILC is continuing to accept new students but limiting enrollment to those students who will complete graduation requirements by the end of the semester. 
• For the 2021-2022 school year, students enrolled in the ILC will work with the staff and administration to create a personalized transition plan, which may include a variety of learning structures. This would include enrollment in classes at one of the four high schools, virtual learning, the Student Restore Program or partial day schedules to accommodate individual needs. 
• Current staff members will serve as facilitators for virtual learning and credit recovery programming for students at any of the four high schools.

“It’s a pause. There is no plan to close the ILC and never to open the school up again,” Harris said. “This is solely based on how we can meet the needs of our students in 2021 and beyond.”Superintendent Dr. Mark Miles said he fully supports the plan to reimagine Rockwood’s alternative learning services.“I believe the needs of our children are evolving,” Miles said. “We are determined to provide the best comprehensive and robust services possible."​

This press release was produced by the Rockwood School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.