MHS implements change in Extended Day Program

Madisyn Hardy, Reporter

Facts

According to principal Sandra Kreps, the after school extended day program is being refocused to better meet the academic needs of students as determined by the purpose of the grant money used for the program. The program is now being restructured to better close achievement gaps rather than providing one-on-one tutoring.

“What’s going to change is the students that stayed after school for tutoring,” Kreps said. “We’re going to channel them differently. It’s not going away; it is just restructured. The kids need instruction rather than tutoring, and we haven’t been providing them that after school.”

After school tutoring will still be available to all students by teacher invitation rather than student request.

Reactions 

Teacher Jacquelyn Close said that she is excited for the new intervention program and thinks it will have an overall positive influence in MHS students.

“It’s no longer a tutoring extended day,” Close said. “It’s going to be an intervention for students with major learning gaps. I think it’ll be a positive change and the intervention part is something we can eventually work into the school day.”

Sophomore Cody Whaley said she feels that by changing the extended day program it would influence her academic success in a negative way.

“It doesn’t work out for me very well,” Whaley said. “I tend to ask teachers for a pass because I don’t have very good internet access at home, so I have to use the school’s resources or I will fall behind. I use the extended day program every week because my online classes require the use of programs that can only be used from the school computers and now that teacher can’t recommend me to stay after school.”

Assistant Principal Matt Foley said that students who need additional academic assistance are encouraged to reach out to their teachers.

“Teachers that agree to stay after school and assist students will be allowed to do so,” Foley said.