Ypsilanti Schools accept transportation consolidation
Jun. 8, 2010 · 3:07 p.m.
"Shame on you" echoed through the audience Monday night after the Ypsilanti Public Schools Board of Education approved a plan to join a countywide consolidated...read more
Willow Run appoints new board member
Jun. 5, 2010 · 8:16 a.m.
The Willow Run School Board appointed a new, yet familiar trustee to the board of education during their regular meeting Thursday night.
Kristine Thomas, a Willow...read more
Willow Run approves county-wide transportation plan
May. 27, 2010 · 2:09 p.m.
The Willow Run School District signed on to a countywide consolidated transportation plan at their regular board meeting last week.
The plan aims to save transportation...read more
Lincoln offers summer courses to area high-schoolers
May. 26, 2010 · 7:49 p.m.
Students from Lincoln and other nearby districts are being invited to participate in Lincoln High School's Summer Academy this year, registration for which opened...read more
Willow Run terminates student services administrator
May. 26, 2010 · 12:26 a.m.
The Willow Run Board of Education unanimously voted to terminate its contract with former Student Services Administrator Laconda Hicks Tuesday night during a special...read more
Photo by Dan DuChene
At its meeting Thursday, the Willow Run Board of Education unanimously approved an $18,000 software package to help high school students who may be at risk of dropping out.
$18,000 purchase could help district with enrollment, graduation rate
Feb. 19, 2010 · 3:13 p.m.
The Willow Run Board of Education unanimously approved a new $18,000 software package to help failing high school students graduate.
The software, called E-2020, provides digital instruction videos, text books, applications, homework, quizzes and tests for teachers to use in several core classes.
“It's a tool to provide content, not replace teachers,” said Greg Bishop, the software company's representative, at Thursday night's meeting.
Bishop said that while multiple choice homework assignments, quizzes and tests will be graded automatically by the program, those that aren't multiple choice will still require a teacher to grade. He said many districts that use the program often require students to keep a journal showing their work, which would also be graded by a teacher.
While a teacher is required to administer the program, students can do school work anywhere with an Internet connection, as the programs features can be accessed on-line.
Laura Greathouse, Title I coordinator for Willow Run Community Schools, said the district intends to use the program to offer credit recovery to students at-risk of getting too far behind in their high school work and dropping out before graduation.
The use of the software allows the district to take the cost from its Title I funds and not impact the general fund in the budget.
Greathouse expects approximately 30 students to enroll in the program by the time it's up and running in March. She said she also expect the program to continue running for summer school.
Michigan Virtual School, the program currently used by the district's credit recovery students, is yielding poor results, according to Greathouse. Thus the switch to E-2020, with a reported success rate as high as 85 percent.
In his presentation to the board, Bishop said the program was initially designed for students who were home-schooled. Boardmembers and administrators hinted this could be a use for the program in the future as well, which would help the struggling district with its enrollment.
Boardmembers Clifford Smith and Joi Jenson praised the software as a purchase that would both keep current students in the district and might attract some new students as well.
Board President Sheri Washington was absent from the meeting.
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