By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
GALENA, Kan. — The Galena and Baxter Springs school boards have approved an agreement turning the operation of the Cornerstone Alternative High School over to the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center in Greenbush for the next school year.
The school for students in danger of dropping out has been in operation in Galena since 1993. School districts in Galena, Baxter Springs, Riverton and Columbus send their students to the alternative school and pay for its operation.
The Riverton Board of Education is expected to vote on the agreement Thursday. The Columbus School District likely will develop its own program, said Superintendent David Carriger.
The educational service center serves school districts in Southeast Kansas.
The cost of continuing to operate the school in the face of state budget cuts was a big factor in the decision, superintendents in Baxter Springs and Galena said.
Galena Superintendent Brian Smith said the current arrangement costs his district and the Baxter Springs district around $100,000 annually. With Greenbush in charge, the cost would be around $40,000 per district, he said.
Greenbush will operate the school with an administrator and a teacher on site, using computer technology through an online program called virtual prescriptive learning.
Smith said another reason for the change for his district is that the state was to begin counting all students who drop out from the Cornerstone program against the Galena School District, regardless of the district from which the students came.
Smith said Greenbush already provides a similar program with several other school districts.
“They’ve become more efficient at it,” Smith said.
Smith said Greenbush also would continue to offer an online program for adults seeking their high school diplomas, which Cornerstone offers now.
Carriger, the Columbus superintendent, said his district is planning to develop its own program that would allow the district to keep students in Columbus rather than busing them to Galena.
The Columbus School District has faced more drastic cuts from the state than other districts in Cherokee County.
Flexible hours
Baxter Springs Superintendent Dennis Burke and Galena Superintendent Brian Smith said the Greenbush arrangement will give students more flexibility.
“There will be a lot more flexible hours, with evenings and Saturdays,” Smith said.
Local News
Greenbush to take over operation of alternative high school in Galena
- Local News
-
-
Mo. court strikes down part of 2008 harassment law
The Missouri Supreme Court has struck down part of a state harassment law enacted after the suicide of a St. Charles County teenager who was teased over the Internet.
-
Cattle rustlers strike again in SW Mo. county
The plague of cattle rustling goes on in southwest Missouri’s Greene County.
Sheriff Jim Arnott says the latest episode occurred sometime Sunday in Walnut Grove. -
Bids sought for Cherokee County water treatment plant
After many delays, construction bids are being sought for a water treatement plant and water tank for the Spring River Public Wholesale Water District No. 19.
-
Dog helps some get through the court process
Sophie, a mutt of a dog with draping ears and dotted brows, is helping people in St. Louis County court tell stories of crime to judges, investigators and attorneys.
-
Jasper County 911 administrative lines down
Though all Jasper County emergency 911 telephone lines are functional, administrative and non-emergency lines for the county dispatching service have been down since Monday night.
-
Study suggests continued population drop in Kansas
A decades-long decline in population is likely to continue in Kansas, particularly in the west of the state, and four counties could have fewer than 1,000 residents by 2040, according to a study by Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research.
-
Tornado victim’s recovery ‘miraculous’
Carolyn Mckinlay did not know much about baseball, but she knew it was important to watch the sixth game of last year’s World Series. It was important because her future husband, Mark Lindquist, had a ticket to see his beloved Cardinals take on the Texas Rangers in the seventh game at St. Louis.
-
Family of service honored at Memorial Day ceremony
Lt. Col. Robert Brock returned to his hometown Monday and told an audience of about 500 residents and veterans gathered at the Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial that Memorial Day is a celebration of family — America’s family of service.
-
Master developer working on project possibilities
A Texas developer who Joplin officials intend to hire to help with the city’s post-tornado development says he has secured commitments for about $400 million in capital to fund about 20 possible projects.
-
Webb City High School honored in rankings of national magazine
Webb City High School is among 13 schools in Missouri to receive a silver medal designation among the best high schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Mo. court strikes down part of 2008 harassment law
