Dropout-prevention committee: 28 students left Spruce Mountain High this year; committee recommends outreach and program changes

Tanya summarized the dropout-prevention committee’s work and told the RSU 73 school board that 28 students left Spruce Mountain High School this year.

"We have had 28 students leave our high school this year," Tanya said, describing interviews conducted by Don Emory and a summary compiled by Robin. She told the board the interviews showed departures were rarely the result of a single event but instead a gradual process marked by academic frustration, administrative challenges, emotional overwhelm, ineffective support systems, disciplinary practices, social pressures and limited meaningful adult connections.

The committee said the high school already has some supports in place and described concrete steps the district is implementing or considering: team-building exercises to align staff, restructuring the alternative-education program, adding community-based social workers, establishing grade-level PLCs to identify at-risk students, introducing a new advisory program, creating a work-study (JMG) class, and discussing lowering recommended graduation-credit thresholds that are higher than in many Maine schools.

Board members asked about committee composition and follow-up. Tanya said eight people attended the May meeting and recommended inviting the district’s JMG coordinator, Zack Keane, to present in the fall to provide more detail on successful programs. Members recommended continuing the committee’s work into the fall and coordinating targeted attendance and early-intervention efforts for younger grades.

Tanya said she looked forward to reconvening in the fall to review progress and encouraged administrators to continue expanding supports to keep students in school.