Changing demographics and a tide of students entering and exiting school contribute to student dropout rates, Wiscasset High School Principal Deb Taylor told school district board members last Thursday night.

Taylor gave a presentation on student dropout rates during the August 9 RSU 12 board meeting at the high school. Her presentation gave more meaning to the numbers, worked to dispel any misconceptions from media reports about the low number of 2011 Wiscasset High School graduates, and to talk about the reasons for the actual student drop out numbers.

Taylor's plan to address student drop out concerns received positive responses from board members, for the most part.

Changing demographics and the tide of incoming and outgoing student population are reasons behind why students drop out of school. Even though the total number of students in the graduating class from 2009 to 2011 shrunk, the number of students transferring in and out of Wiscasset High School increased each of those years. 

Students entering the high school from other locations and school districts face the challenge of adjusting to a new curriculum, as well as the difficulties of home life. Of the students who attend the high school, 17.5 percent live below the poverty line, Taylor said.

She said many students are coming to the high school unprepared to do the school work. Without additional assistance, students face a seemingly insurmountable challenge in their attempt to catch up with their peers. 

A mandatory after school support study program helps students get back on track. “We call it our mothering group,” she said, adding that school staff have formed a dropout prevention committee. The committee includes teachers, a parent, a student who is struggling to get through the course work and a board member. Their next meeting is on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

Taylor highlighted several other projects that were implemented for the 2012 school year, which will continue in the upcoming school year. These include an intensive after school credit recovery for freshmen and sophomore students, study support opportunities built into the daily/weekly schedules, and a student assistance team.

Her presentation indicated that staff should look outside of the traditional education box and turn to alternative solutions. One goal she mentioned was to explore other options for students to receive course credit while holding onto school standards, setting aside a “time-in-seat mentality to proficiency.” Taylor wants to collaborate more with alternative education programs to reach all those students who are struggling to learn.

Board member Joan Morin of Whitefield, who also spoke favorably of the plan, recommended Taylor look to Augusta schools for additional ideas. Morin said their student dropout rate has declined since implementing certain programs there.

Groans and murmurs of disagreement followed Palermo representative Don Barrett's comment when he asked why towns should support a “substandard school.” Several board members said, “It is not a substandard school.”

Chelsea representative Barbara Skehan praised Taylor for the plan she presented to the board. Skehan also mentioned that programs best suited for other school districts might not work for Wiscasset.

Taylor said she would not argue with how the state calculates graduation numbers, but is concerned with how the public interprets the numbers.

Wiscasset representative Wenonah Wirik asked Taylor if she thought that perhaps students who do not graduate often do not know what is available to them. 

Taylor said the problem is not so much that students are not aware, but students find it difficult to see themselves in other situations. To leave their family, their home and way of life for a better future is often the biggest challenge, she said.