BENTONVILLE — A proposed reworking of the advising system at Bentonville High School could help at-risk students graduate.
The Bentonville School Board Personnel Committee met briefly last week to review the hiring of an advising coordinator for approximately $65,000. It also reviewed spending $22,500 to train 15 teachers. The committee recommended the board approve spending the money at its next meeting, May 21.
The 15 teachers each will receive a $1,500 stipend to attend once-a-month training to help keep them up to date on advising methods and information.
Kim Garrett, Bentonville High School principal, said this is the first phase in the advising change. The long-term goal is to offer each student a more personal advising method, she said. If the recommendation is approved, at-risk students could benefit from the change starting next year.
“These are the students who have attendance problems,” Garrett said. “They have been identified because they do not come to school regularly. They have behavioral problems. They have engagement problems. They do not have the skills to be successful in the classroom.”
AT A GLANCE
Grant Money
Mary Ley, district communication director and grant writer, has applied for a $285,000 grant through the AT&T Foundation to help with the cost of the advising change. The money could be used to continue or expand the program.
“I hope to know if we will receive it by the end of May but no later than August,” Ley said.
Source: Staff Report
Students now get one hour a week to meet with a teacher about academic advising. The teacher is encouraged to review the student’s grades and help the student make decisions regarding academic schedules, Garrett said.
The 15 advising teachers will be able to meet with the at-risk students and advise them more often — maybe three days a week instead of only one, Garrett said.
“These are students who a lot of times do not have any sort of help outside of high school,” Garrett said. “This is that student’s advocate to help that student make this transition to high school.
“This is helping them by saying, ‘OK, if art is something that you like, how about graphic design? Let’s look at your schedule and get you into another art class next year.’ They will help them (students) create that four-year plan, help them build on that four-year plan, including what they want do after high school.”
The 15 advising teachers will focus primarily on incoming freshmen but could also include upperclassmen next year, Garrett said.
Kim Mertes, board member and chairwoman of the personnel committee, said this rework of the advising system is good for students.
“It will help those students see what the long-range goal is,” Mertes said. “The goal is graduation. To have more teachers helping these at-risk students is invaluable.”