CATSKILL - School district programs to help dropouts earn equivalency diplomas have been recognized by the Workforce Investment Board of Columbia & Greene Counties

Consultant Betty Ann Falkner presented an award for excellence during a Board of Education meeting last week.

"The GED program been wonderful and been very, very successful, mainly through the work of the teachers but also from the persistence of the young people who have overcome many obstacles to get to the program," she said.

Teacher Sharon Tompkins said 36 of the first 40 students who took the exam passed in a program that has proven to be more successful than expected.

"They had a target population to serve about 20 students," Tompkins said. "Not counting the three that joined this week, we have 52 students (over a three-year period) who have been part of our program. "

Officials reported the 90 percent success rate for the program, which works with students between 16 and 21 years old, far exceeded the 56 percent state average.

"New York state's dropout rate is listed at 31 percent," Tompkins said. "Catskill's GED program is 6 percent."

The success has also included working with six students who passed the equivalency tests after previously receiving special education services.

"Fifteen percent of our students have an individual education plan," Tompkins said.

Credited for making the district program successful were Tompkins, teacher Maryann Morrison, teacher assistant Debra Zwoboda and counselor Randy Schantz.

"One of the things that is probably most exciting ... is that we have two students who are currently enrolled in (Columbia-Greene Community College), we have 16 who anticipate go to some form of higher education, and we have one student who has just finished his basic training and is now serving the United States in the Army," Tompkins said.

By WILLIAM J. KEMBLE, Correspondent
June 03, 2003
©Daily Freeman 2003

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