Students who dropped out of high school or are struggling in the high school setting and considering dropping out have a new avenue to success in earning their high school diploma – while simultaneously earning credits toward college.

The Old Rochester Regional School Committee on December 10 gave approval for ORR to offer the “Gateway to College” program upon the request of ORRHS Principal Michael Devoll, who said he already has students showing interest in the program.

Devoll said one student of the 2014 graduating class dropped out of ORR before graduating and contacted Devoll that very day, looking for a way to return to ORR to graduate. When he told her about the tentative approval by the School Committee that evening, she was excited.

The Gateway to College program would allow her and other students to attend classes at Bristol Community College to earn high school credits toward their diploma as a dual enrollment program, and earn college credits at the same time. The students would be enrolled at ORR, but take their courses at BCC.

“This is a student that is ready to go,” said Devoll, saying that returning to ORR after a year removed, mid-year, would prove more difficult for her.

“And without the peer group, it would make it even more difficult for this student,” said Devoll.

There is no cost for the student to attend the program, which would be funded by the school district at $3,500 per semester, the same rate as a School Choice placement.

There is a rigorous admissions process, though, and prospective students who apply would attend one-on-one interviews, as well as submit essays and undergo placement testing.

Also during the meeting, Devoll introduced some changes to the ORR course selection of the high school program of studies.

In light of the committee’s approval last year of the four-year Physical Education graduation requirement, the school will now offer racquet sports, “Fitness for Life,” and give credit for out-of-school recreational activities such as dance, horseback riding, or YMCA membership.

Some music courses like Music Technology II and Intermediate Guitar will be eliminated due to lack of interest. Instead, students would re-enroll in the beginning level course and the instructor would adjust the curriculum individually according to level.

Also offered will be grade nine and ten ELA and Mathematics skills classes aimed at improving performance on standardized tests and building a stronger foundation for higher levels of math, such as Algebra II. The skills classes would be full-year classes, but only meet twice instead of four times during the school’s eight-day academic cycle.

New Science teacher Virginia Mattos will start offering a new Intro to Epidemiology class after students polled showed a significant interest.

ORR will also offer American Sign Language as a foreign language option for students who would otherwise not take a language. Devoll’s concern was students who graduate without the two-year foreign language requirement for college admissions.

Devoll said he researched other schools that offer sign language and found schools’ responses to be “all positive.”

If you build it, said Devoll, they will come.

“If you build it and they don’t come, we won’t run it,” said Devoll.

Also during the meeting, some teachers who offered to pilot the integration of the district’s new Chromebooks directly into their classroom curriculum told the committee how successful the move has been, saying they use the devices daily and the students love them. One of the teachers said his class has reduced its paper consumption to zero, while another said the students are more engaged and excited to learn.

The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for January 14 at 6:00 pm in the ORR media room.

By Jean Perry

No one likes just hanging around with nothing to do, but during the December 10 meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission, it could not be helped. With four hearings continued and the publically published agenda in place, they were stuck keeping to the schedule.

Richard Costa of 37 River Road, filing for a Notice of Intent to eradicate phragmites, was up first.

Costa received an education from Chairman Norman Hills and ConCom member Jeffrey Doubrava on the proper methodology to use in efforts to control and eliminate these invasive plants. Costa plans on doing the work himself.

“We are sensitive to people eradicating phragmites,” said Hills. “It must be done at mean low tide.”

Costa was told that winter is not the best season to perform the work; rather, treat individual stems in the spring, followed by a more thorough removal in the fall before the plumes seed. Costa received permission that is good for a three-year cycle of eradication efforts.

Then there was a long pause as Robert Korff’s (345-390 Wareham Street) Request for Determination of Applicability to confirm boundaries of wetland resource areas protected under Wetlands Protection Act was continued to January 14.

The hearing for Ashley Briggs of 73 Cove Circle, Notice of Intent for the construction of a single-family dwelling, garage, and driveway, had been continued pending a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection file number. With that now in place, a standard Order of Conditions with erosion controls was placed on the approved project.

Legare Cuyler of 15 Hiller Street was sent by the building inspector to have a discussion with the Conservation Commission regarding his application to build a small bump out – an addition that adds on only a few feet to an existing room – for a half bath and the construction of a new entranceway and associated landing. He was told to file a Notice of Intent with the commission, but that there was nothing barring his request as presented.

Then there was another long pause due to a request by Joseph Sheehan to indefinitely postpone his NOI to remove phragmites located at 17 Nokomis Road along a marsh.

Bay Watch Realty submitted a request to modify the drainage plans for the cluster sub-division located off Front Street. This received approval since it was a minor change. The commission, however, will send a letter to the developer requesting stamped plans.

Then there was yet another long pause as Bart Nourse’s request to discuss invasive bamboo at 35 Spring Street, 39-41 Spring Street, and 20 Cottage Lane was postponed with no date for a return.

Nick Dufresne of Thompson Farland Engineering represented Bernard Bowers regarding 14 Bayview Road and his application for a RDA to construct additions to an existing dwelling with associated grading and to relocate an existing deck with the construction of a stone patio. The applicant received a Negative 2 determination with standard conditions plus erosion control.

Long pauses continuedas the Town of Marion’s NOI for the reconstruction of a 337-foot stone seawall was continued.

Susan Wright’s (25 River Road) NOI to remove a cesspool and install a new septic system was reviewed and then continued until January 14 in order for the applicant to file for a DEP number.

William Curley, 9 Edgewater Lane, represented by David Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates, Inc. sought an amended Order of Conditions on an application that was originally filed in April of 2010. Curley had been unable to complete the plan as designed due to economic constraints, and was back before the commission with a smaller dwelling footprint needing the commission’s review and approval.

“…Essentially, we are just shrinking the house down…. Everything else remains the same,” said Davignon before the commission approved the amended Order of Conditions.

The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for January 14 at 7:00 pm in the Town House meeting room.

By Marilou Newell