In just under two weeks, the hustle and bustle of life at International Falls public schools will return as students and staff kick off a new school year.
At the high school level, the district’s new superintendent, Kevin Grover, said he looks forward to changes intended to regain some of the culture at the school.
“We’re trying to make an environment that gives students more freedom,” he said.
For the first time, high school juniors and seniors will have the option to take concurrent enrollment, or college in the schools, courses at FHS. The classes, which are similar to those found in a college setting, will be taught by high school teachers in high school classrooms. At the same time, they will be treated like college courses.
“Students can expect a college-level environment at the high school,” Grover said. “It’s comparable to college life with a high school atmosphere.”
Just as students would find on a college course schedule, some concurrent enrollment classes will only run three or four days per week. When a student doesn’t have class, Grover said they are free to leave the building or take a break in a new junior and senior lounge.
The lounge, near the cafeteria, allows the upperclassmen to relax, watch TV, visit with friends, or access the Internet. The room won’t be staffed, but will be under surveillance, Grover noted.
“It’s meant to be a drop-in lounge,” he said. “I think it’s great.”
Aside from restoring Bronco pride, the concurrent enrollment effort is also linked to school officials retaining students at the high school.
According to a report from FHS Principal Tim Everson to the Falls School Board in February, 41 percent of last year’s seniors and 18 percent of juniors were enrolled full time in classes at Rainy River Community College through the Post Secondary Enrollment Option, or PESO, program. The number of FHS students attending RRCC took a big chunk out of the FHS class size, Everson reported.
“By offering a competitive environment, we will gain some of our students and leaders back,” Grover said. “It’ll change the culture and environment here. Is there money attached to students? Of course, but the bigger thing is...we want to get some of our school spirit back.”
In addition, Grover said this year will hopefully be a stepping stone to offering more concurrent enrollment classes in the future to allow students to graduate with their high school diploma as well as an college associate’s degree.
“If that’s what they want, we want to offer that,” he said.
New program
Another change coming to FHS is the implementation of the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, or PBIS, program intended to address behavior issues in a positive way.
The program highlights a proactive approach to positive behaviors. It’s a nationwide effort that aims to aid students in both the academic and behavioral sphere. It educates students on how to be respectful, responsible and safe from the time they arrive at school to the time they are dismissed — and everything in between.
Grover said staff has been traveling to out-of-town workshops to prepare for the program that was introduced at Falls Elementary and West End Elementary schools last year. He said it took the high school a little longer to prepare because of the reward system.
“We had to work out different ways to offer rewards for students who demonstrate positive behaviors,” Grover said. “Businesses have been helping us out immensely.”
The superintendent added he is excited about the program and the surprises in store for students as the year progresses.
