Alternative High School a Perfect Fit
Posted on: Saturday, 17 May 2008, 00:00 CDT
By JOHN MARTIN, Courier & Press staff writer 464-7594 or martinj@courierpress.com
For a long time, Aaron Bolinger had "no interest whatsoever in school," his mother said.
Bolinger, the son of a shop teacher, preferred a garage to a classroom. His parents never discouraged his interest in mechanics, but as his academic performance deteriorated, they both worried.
Bolinger acknowledged that he was on the verge of quitting North High School when he finally was given an ultimatum.
"My mom always said dropping out was not an option," Bolinger said.
"I pushed him," said Bolinger's mother, Lynette Singleton. "I told him he had to graduate or stay in the school the rest of his life."
For Bolinger and more than 80 other Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. students, the path to success was found at the School of Academic and Career Development.
The 20-year-old alternative high school has more flexible class scheduling than traditional high schools. It can be a successful formula for students who have encountered personal difficulties or ones who, like Bolinger, struggled in a traditional school setting.
Bolinger, one of 83 seniors honored during Thursday's recognition day, earned his credits by taking a half-day of courses at the alternative school and spending the other half of the day in Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center programs.
And the same student whose school attendance had been poor in the past left Thursday's ceremonies with an award for high attendance. He will attend the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix in the fall.
Brittany Dean also struggled in the traditional school setting, and after having a baby before her senior year at Bosse High School, she found the encouragement and flexibility her life required at the alternative school.
"The atmosphere is filled with positive attitudes... Going here helped me realize my opportunities are endless," said Dean, who will study nursing at Ivy Tech Community College while working
at a grocery and caring for her daughter
Principal Elizabeth McGovern said her school takes to heart the words of Robert F. Kennedy: "Our greatest joy is not in never failing, but rising up every time we fail."
She said her school's graduates, who will receive diplomas next week from their home high schools, are examples of perseverance.
Students this year were involved in several "service learning" activities, McGovern said, such as construction of a walking trail at Angel Mounds State Historic Site, the United Way Days of Caring and a Red Cross blood drive.
The school's graduation rate is a little more than 90 percent.
Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, EVSC Superintendent Vincent Bertram and School Board President Mike Duckworth all spoke at Thursday's recognition day, which for two years has been in the career center.
The school previously was at the Stanley Hall building on South Evans Avenue.
McGovern said recognition day "is bittersweet because we have to say goodbye to some very special people. It is, to borrow from a favorite song of mine, a magic time."
(c) 2008 Evansville Courier & Press. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: Evansville Courier & Press
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