By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
USD 475 has been looking at creation of a grades 6-12 alternative program at the H.D. Karns Building. Students with behavior and discipline challenges at both Junction City High School and Junction City Middle School could be sent there. There was conversation at the recent Board of Education meeting and there was approval from the Board to beef up the staff with an assistant principal and four more core teachers.
But USD 475Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston makes it clear that there are good students at the Karns Building. "What we're trying to do is utilize that facility for as many alternative programs as we possibly can." I think the conversation surrounded some of the students that we have experienced some behavior problems with this past year, and so we have an alternative program for those students to help them return back to the school."
Eggleston added that the ultimate goal is to help all of the district's students be successful. "So I don't want people to feel like we have nothing but criminals over there because that's not the case. We just have some students who have been misguided, misdirected, and we need to assist them with getting back on track so that they can be productive citizens." Eggleston added that's the goal that District officials have in mind.
One of the positive alternatives at the Karns Building is the Magnet Program. Eggleston said that program is "strictly for students who want assistance or enrichment when it comes to their academics. " The superintendent added the purpose of that program is to help students make preparations for ninth grade. "We want to do everything that we can to help students be prepared academically, emotionally so that they're ready to take on the rigors of a high school curriculum, as well as be ready to make good decisions when they're in a large environment." Eggleston said the District is proud of the accomplishments of the Magnet Program and there have not been any issues with that program.