New London  school board approves graduation list, ready to host first track meet

By Gretchen Teske, Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? Spring is in full swing at New London Community School District as the list of seniors have been approved to graduate and track athletes to show off their new facility with pride. A luncheon and signing will be held for all seniors and their parents to showcase the students and their future success.

42 seniors will graduate in the New London High School graduating class of 2018. Before they leave, the school has put together a luncheon and signing for students and their families. ?We?re trying to do something to honor all students,? said principal Scott Kracht.

At the school board meeting on Tuesday, April 16, Kracht explained the signing will work in the same way an athletic signing would. Students will sit at a table and be celebrated for the school, job or other future endeavor they have chosen. The signing will give each student an opportunity to be celebrated for their accomplishments and forthcoming objectives. ?It?s really encompassing what all our kids are doing,? he said.

For students who have yet to graduate, more classes are being added for both at-risk and on-track students. Alaina Nelson, the 6-12 at-risk teacher explained the program will still require students to earn 52 credits to graduate, but will allow for the addition of online learning. ?We?re trying to develop more opportunities for kids,? she explained.

Currently around 10 percent of students in the district are considered at-risk. An at-risk student is one who runs the risk of not graduating because of lack of credits. ?We?ve been using it more as credit recovery instead of credit replacement,? she told the board.

The new online program will allow students more freedom and flexibility to complete their classes.

Beginning with eighth-grade, on-track students will have the opportunity to enroll in computer science classes in the upcoming school year. Reportedly, half of the eighth-graders took Algebra for the first time, which will result in a math curriculum change for the following year. A weight lifting course also has been added but will require previous weightlifting experience in order to enroll. ?What we want to do is tailor each class to meet each individual student,? Kracht said.

The elementary school will also tailor experiences for students in the form of a new guidance counselor. Luke Lawson of Hamilton, Ill. was chosen to be the guidance counselor for both the New London and Danville school districts. ?I can?t begin to tell you how wonderful it is that we?re going to have someone down at the elementary for that,? said Todd Palmatier.

Lawson will split his time equally between the two districts and has expressed interest in being involved in extracurricular activities as well.

The high school will be missing another senior next year as Chris Selby, the long time athletic director, is set to retire. Before she leaves, she would like to see the success of the first track meet at the new facility. New London also will host the conference meet on May 3, with up to nine teams participating. The board volunteered to help at the events, even hosting a staff tailgate for the first meet. ?I was wondering if we were going to make it, but I?m sure we?re going to make it now,? she said.

In district news, Superintendent Chad Wahls reported that active shooter training took place the previous week. Another training has been scheduled for May 8 and will require students to leave the building and seek their designated safe areas. ?We will just try to make sure they all come back,? he joked.

Wahls sought out Meinen Construction and Lawn Care for a bid on reseeding and fertilizing the school grounds. The bid came in around $5,500 and no decision to move further was reached.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 22, at 7 p.m. in the North Campus boardroom.