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April 18, 2007 13:36:49
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April 10 Meeting of Spruce Pine Kiwanis
At the April 10 meeting of Spruce Pine Kiwanis, Linda Harvil, President and CEO of Mitchell County’s Communities in Schools, spoke to the group about the growing dropout rate. Linda reported that Communities in Schools was started by the business community because an educated work force is essential to maintaining our economy and way of life. She also reported that there is a national crisis with respect to graduating students. She shared with the group that non-attendance was the number one reason that children drop out and that most students drop out in 9th grade. The military used to be an option for dropouts - the military would take them, help them get their GED and provide them with career opportunities. But the military no longer accepts dropouts. Statistics show that 85% of dropouts become recipients of public assistance, especially healthcare and that 75% of prisoners are high school dropouts. Linda hopes that communities will get more involved in schools to help turn the situation around.
A picture of Linda Harvil and other Communities in School board members can be found in the Photo Gallery.
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