Managing editor
It's all about relationships.
Susan and Myron Oyloe moved to Myron's hometown of Williston from the East Coast about six years ago, and have become good friends with Williston High School special education teacher Valli Helstad.
Through the course of the Oyloe's regular conversations with Helstad, discussions about alternative high schools would surface. As luck would have it, Susan is a director on the board of the Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation in Annapolis, Md., that her sister, Sallie Hamrick, oversees. The foundation assists educational activities, so Susan gave Williston Public School District 1 Superintendent Viola LaFontaine a call about three weeks ago to visit about an alternative high school.
The foundation is now working on a $137,000 grant to help start the Del Easton Alternative School. The alternative high school would offer an optional setting and programming for students to earn a high school diploma instead of being in a traditional high school program. Supporters of alternative high schools say they keep students in school, thereby reducing the number of dropouts.
"I'm very excited about it. It just makes my heart warm just thinking about it," Susan Oyloe said of helping the district get an alternative high school.
"I think you have a wonderful school board. If this can help one kid, we're delighted to do it."
LaFontaine said the school district is exploring possibly purchasing or renting a building with the grant dollars.
"We're getting closer and closer to getting an alternative high school," LaFontaine said.
Hamrick said her sister said an alternative high school is needed in Williston.
"We've moved forward from there. We are in the process of drawing up a memorandum of understanding," Hamrick said.
Hamrick said the foundation is supplying a one-time grant for the purpose of starting the alternative high school. The school district has the discretion to use the funds to provide a building, supplies or other start-up needs.
"We just want to get it up and running," Hamrick said.
She is waiting to hear from the foundation accountant on one issue and then expects to have the paperwork ready for the school district to consider.
"As soon as we can get the agreement together, we'll both sign and the foundation will send out a check," Hamrick said.
Helstad said an alternative high school has been discussed since Del Easton was superintendent.
Helstad also knows Hamrick and said, "it's neat, and it's fabulous, that we have people on the East Coast who are willing to donate."
Jerry Wood established the Annapolis Sailing School in 1959, and is became the largest commercial sailing school in the country is remains an industry leader. He married Kathy in 1968 and since are credited with helping to establish and shape the modern recreational boating industry.
Jerry died in 2003 and Kathy died in 2005. The foundation's Web site states although they never had children of their own, the couple employed over 3,000 young people over the years. The couple was very proud of helping guide numerous young adults become well-rounded individuals, which led to the creation of the foundation and its emphasis.
Oyloe knows LaFontaine oversaw an alternative high school in Belcourt before recently coming to Williston, "so she has all of this experience."
"It just seemed to fall into place now," Helstad said of meeting the need.
Comments
Kari wrote on Sep 25, 2009 12:36 PM:
a former coyote wrote on Sep 25, 2009 11:05 AM:
ROY SIMONSON wrote on Sep 24, 2009 6:26 PM:
It was nice to have people donate money,but what i really believe is the students need to be heald more accountable,and i really believe we have some of the best teachers you can get, and we already have in place teachers for secial needs,and if some stidents do drop threw the cracks, they can go to the college and get their G.E.D. and then maybe go too the trades and become a carpenter or a plummer.
now we know 137000. is alot of monwy but its really a drop in the bucket when it comes to schools and teachers,so when the money runs our , they will come right back to the tax payers and raise the mill levys.
take a good look at the long run and see how far 137000 goeas. "
teaches wrote on Sep 24, 2009 3:54 PM:
Former Student wrote on Sep 23, 2009 10:57 AM:
Larry D. Larsen wrote on Sep 21, 2009 8:22 PM:
I know this was and is a dream of former Principal and Superintendent Del Easton as he and I had several discussions about it while I was still teaching at WHS.
I am hoping the Williston School Board throws their full support behind the project. "
Terry Hammond wrote on Sep 19, 2009 2:57 PM:
Lefty Lucy wrote on Sep 19, 2009 9:08 AM:
My nephew attends one and he has thrived. With a minor LD he is doing better than he ever did in the regular school setting.
Now, that said, I don't mean the next comments to be too critical, just something to think about...at the school my nephew attends they are not even required to bring a pencil or notebook to class. Now, everyone understands forgetfulness and it happens to all of us but in my humble opinion this is not teaching anyone anything expect that in life everything will be provided for you and you have no personal responsibility and are not being held accountable for your actions.
This may seem minor but if you can't even be held accountable to bring a pencil or notebook to a class where you know you will need one that is more like having everything handed to you on a silver platter instead of earning it.
Something to think about when setting up alternative schools. I am all for them but there has to be a certain level of personal responsibility involved or all these kids are going to get is a diploma. "
Concerned wrote on Sep 18, 2009 7:03 PM: