Sikeston R-6 to offer College Now, Career Now this fall
SIKESTON — Sikeston High School students will have the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree or general education certificate before receiving their high school diploma.
Kim Thornbrough, senior counselor at Sikeston High School, presented information on College Now and Career Now during Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting of the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education.
“This is basically a way for our students to get a head start on college,” Thornbrough told the Board. “It is stepping away from the traditional high school experience and focusing on their future career goals by earning the Core 42 General Education certificate or their associate of arts degree.”
If SHS students choose to do the AA degree, it can be in education, sports medicine, etc., she said.
“They can transfer to a four-year college ready to focus on taking courses in their major,” Thornbrough said.
College Now is an early entrance to college program that will be located on the campus of Three Rivers College in Sikeston. Students attend the program for two years, replacing the junior and senior years of traditional high school, Thornbrough said.
“While in the program, students are enrolled in a curriculum consisting of all college coursework taught by professors at Three Rivers College. Some coursework may be completed on the Sikeston High School campus,” she said.
Upon successful completion, students may earn an Associate of Arts or the Core 42 General Education certificate as well as a high school diploma, Thornbrough said.
Criteria for the program includes: 3.0 GPA; a review of the student disciplinary record; must meet Accuplacer (TRC’s placement exam) scores required for the courses; must be strong in Algebra II and geometry; and must complete an application.
“Students may still participate in extracurricular activities as long as they meet Missouri High School Athletics Association’s eligibility criteria if needed.
The majority of the tuition and fees will be covered by the district; the student will pay for the cost of books and software, Thornbrough said. Students will be responsible for transportation to and from TRC.
“Students are required to maintain passing grades (C or better) in all classes. If a student makes a D or F, then the student will be responsible to repay the district the full cost of the course including fees and may lose eligibility at TRC,” Thornbrough said.
Students will have access to a full-time Sikeston High School counselor (Thornbrough) and a Three Rivers College academic adviser (Amanda Taylor).
“For the initial start of the program, we are limiting this to a maximum of five spots,” Thornbrough said, noting applications were due Friday.
The program will begin for SHS students in the 2020-2021 school year.
Board member Kyle Alcorn asked if this program would impact the district’s agreement with Southeast Missouri State University-Sikeston, and Thornbrough said it would not.
Career Now works similar to College Now and will include opportunities for certification in industrial maintenance, welding as well as spring semester training for certified truck driving offered to seniors, according to Chad King, director of the Sikeston Career and Technology Center.
In other business Tuesday, King provided Perkins and vocational grant updates for 2019-2020.
Junior High Academic Principal Tosha Whitter and Building Principal Frank Staple provided their building’s achievement update. Whitter presented data and information about how they monitor student growth and respond to interventions with students.
As of Feb. 3, districtwide enrollment was at 3,443. Dr. Kimberley Blissett, assistant superintendent of elementary and special education, said there are currently 1,940 students in grades K-6; 525 students at Junior High; 863 students at the high school and 115 students at the alternative center. Enrollment peaked at 3,500 in September. Enrollment is still up by 110 students compared to a year ago this time.
In action by the Board, the appointments of Lauren DeWitt and Kelly Williams to the Sikeston Public Schools Foundation Board of Trustees were approved. Their terms will be from March 11 through March 14, 2023. Tanner was also reappointed to represent the Board of Education on the SPS Foundation Board of Trustees for the same time period.
It was decided that Tanner and fellow board members Matt Drake and Chad Bles will serve on the district’s insurance request for proposals committee.
The Board approved the following Project Lead the Way courses for grades 10-12: Computer Science Essentials and Principles of Biomedical Science.
The Board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Three Rivers College.
Also on Tuesday, Southeast Elementary students Jada Armstrong, first grader; and Emberley Pickering, third grader, were recognized by the Board as the district’s students of the month.