The press conference, which will take place in the Junior/Senior High School cafeteria, is open to the general public. After statements by speakers representing HCSD, there will be a question-and-answer session.
In a press release announcing the press conference, Dr. Lisamarie Spindler, HCSD superintendent, is quoted as saying of Hudson Bluehawk Academy, "This initiative, lead by three extremely talented and devoted new staff members, will assist our efforts in preparing scholars with being ready for life after graduation while integrating key businesses and positive difference makers in the community with our district."
Ummm, excuse me but isn't this what Hudson CSD, and all School Districts for that matter, was supposed to be doing for say the last 75 years give or take?
ReplyDeleteMr. Swanson makes a point. This is merely window dressing at a cost. Proof positive, if any is needed, that the HCSD is on the brink of being incapable of performing its primary function. It's also proof, if any is needed, that the District is over-funded to some degree.
ReplyDeleteThis may be worth attending. That is if they actually give answers to direct questions. 1) What is the target group. 2) What are the qualifications necessary for a student to enter the program? 3) What staff members will be involved in the selection process? 4) Do the teachers volunteer for this assignment or are they assigned? 5) Are the staff involved with this program trained in "At Risk" behavior modifications? 6) Will the academy be giving support for regular class room courses or will this academy be developing it's own curriculum? 7) Will there be a separate administrator be responsible for this program? 8) Will the code of conduct be the same for this academy? 9) Will the academy students have a separate location from the rest of the student population? 10) Where does the funding come from for this venture?
ReplyDeleteAnd the most important question of all; Will the students attend this program voluntarily or will they be assigned student/parent approval?
There was a program 40-50 years ago and was very successful. It was called "Hudson Alternate School" and had nothing to do with the alternate learning program of 10-15 years ago. The school was located at the former Blue Anchor which is now the new Isaan Thai Star and then it moved to where Caldwell Gallery is around 1980 next to Moto and then out to PG Plaza sometime in late 1980's which was the very original Price Chopper and Jamesway next to the first of 3 McDonalds in Hudson.
ReplyDeleteThe program focused on 3 key things:
Basic Skills = 3 r's
Life Skills= Making a budget, Map reading, buying your first car and the ins and outs of banking and finance, comparative shopping "what is unit pricing", First Aid/CPR, Long term investing and saving, etc
Career Skills= Career planning, mentorship programs, etc
Finally, in order to graduate, you attended school 2.5 hours a day / 5 days a week and completed ALL THE TASK in the curriculum of the program. In addition, you must either have a job and have at least 1200 work hours on the books to graduate, or be enrolled in CGCC as a student in a degree program or finally, a delayed enlistment in military with a signed contract "folks would sometimes attend basic training in summer between junior and senior year for ANG or Reserves after taking ASVAB for enlisted or AFOQT for officer candidates". Once all the criteria was met, you were awarded a general academic HS diploma.
It was a very good program and was a shame that it went away back in the late 80's.
John Ferrara and Jim Wilcox were the teachers.
There seems to be a major lack of interest for this proposal by many within the Hudson community. That being said, it's also the reason that HCSD continues operate without impunity. The Register Star rarely reports anything regarding HCSD with the possible exception of an occasional sports score. The lack of interest with the events of the school district mirror the community. For example, two administrators that started this academic year are no longer with the district. One was fired and the other quit. Perhaps I just missed the insightful investigative feature article that informed the public about losing multiple administrators in the first semester of a new school year..
ReplyDeleteThe meeting has been rescheduled for Friday, Feb.3rd, which is two days after the scheduled opening of the program.
ReplyDelete