Learning Center gives new hope to students
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

For more than 155 students, the Southeastern Learning Center has provided the impetus to their receiving their high school diplomas. Without this special incentive, many of them would have never earned enough credits to qualify for their home school graduation. A large number would have been "dropouts," and many would have doubted their own abilities.

While the Learning Center is certainly not for everyone, it is an alternative for those who may have had difficulties at their home schools. It works well for those with behavior problems, poor attendance records, or special needs problems that couldn't be met at their home schools.

It is a recommitment for those who have given up on education.

This February the Southeastern Learning Center begins its eighth year. When the school opened on February 17, 1998, Gene V. Personett was the director and Cheryll Obendorf the secretary.

Located in a section of the Southeastern Career Center, the Southeast Learning Center originally was made up of eight school districts with a board of directors that included superintendents of each of the districts. The Southeastern Career Center also had a position on the board.

From the beginning the school has offered a flexible program tailored to the individual needs of each student. The participating school corporations wanted to provide a learning environment for students who have not succeeded in the public school setting for reasons that could include behavioral, academic, or other problems.

Rick Stork, who is now the director/instructor, has been associated with the learning center since its beginning. When Personett left the area, Stork was made temporary director. Then in May 2000 he became the director.

"I love it," Stork said about his association with the learning center. "The hair may have gone to white, but the drive is still there." Among the school districts involved - Batesville, Jac-Cen-Del, Lawrenceburg, Milan, Rising Sun, South Dearborn, South Ripley, Sunman, and Switzerland County - the last to join the consortium just a year ago was Switzerland County, increasing the number to nine districts representing four counties.

Presently there are 40 students enrolled in the three sessions: Morning (8:50 - 11:20 a.m.); Afternoon (11:50 - 2:30 p.m.); and Evening (Monday through Thursday from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.) The school calendar is consistent with the Southeastern Career Center's.

In addition to Stork, the staff includes Charles Stucker, who has been a teacher for five years, and Terry Zinz, who is the job coordinator and service learning coordinator.

Noting that the learning center has a "good working board of directors," Stork explained that in May during an allocation session, each board member says how many student slots his district will purchase. The cost is $2,000 per student slot.

According to the needs of the individual student, basic subjects are offered. The learning center cannot provide physical education or science classes that call for a lab. Foreign language and fine arts classes are also not available.

As far as discipline problems are concerned, Stork said they are very rare. "We try to make students understand that they are responsible for their own success or failure. In order to address individual differences, each student has his own service plan. They are not numbers to us. We really care about each of them."

The school also offers an intensive class in the evening for seniors who need one or two extra credits for graduation. Concerning the GQE - the graduation qualifying exam - Stork said that they have only had two students who didn't pass it.

"We always try to find the positive and build on it with every student," Stork concluded.

Economically, the Southeast Learning Center is making a difference in the lives of each of its graduating seniors. According to statistics Stork relates, each high school graduate will earn $300,000 more over a working career. "If we've helped 155 graduates, that's a lot of money that wouldn't be here. I think of it as one new home and six new cars."

Michael Ellis works toward goals

Michael Ellis, whose home school is Switzerland County, began classes at the learning center the last part of August. "I needed some help to make up credits I needed to graduate," Michael tells me as we talk in Director Rick Stork's office.

"The teachers here actually show an interest in the students. They give them all the help they need and really care about each student. Since I've been here, I realize there's more I can do than I thought - that I have the potential."

Ellis explains that it was his girlfriend who gave him the confidence to realize "I could do what I wanted to do. I was running around with the wrong crowd, but she straightened me up. I grew up a lot."

Now Michael Ellis not only wants to graduate from Switzerland County High School, he also wants to attend college in Evansville and to earn a degree in human resources and business fundamentals.

Along with trying to complete his education, Michael has had to battle cancer. A few weeks ago he was diagnosed with melanoma and has had surgery at Dearborn County Hospital. Fortunately for this young man, his doctors believe the surgery took care of all the cancer and he will have a full recovery.

During his hospitalization and recovery, he kept up all his work, Stork says, and has made up six credits since he has been attending the learning center.

After his morning session, he rides the Switzerland County bus back for afternoon classes at the high school and then spends five to six hours of study each evening.

Noting he has help on the home front, Michael says, "I grabbed the moment before I could lose it. My whole life has been changed."

An A/B student, Michael is working toward a scholarship - a goal Director Stork thinks he will reach. "Economically, Mike will never be on any government rolls; he'll be self-supportive, and he'll be able to produce for his community."

Marty Bowling passes GQE

Marty Bowling, a senior at South Dearborn High School, believes his work at the Southeast Learning Center has helped him to pass the graduation qualifying exam and to be looking forward to commencement exercises with the Class of 2006.

A learning center student for the past year and a half, Marty says he was failing all his classes. "I couldn't concentrate...there were lots of students. Here it's pretty much one on one."

Since his enrollment at the learning center, Marty has earned more than 16 credits and has only eight to complete to be eligible for his diploma. "If you're having trouble, come here," Marty advises. "It's an easy way to get credits if you work."

When classes are over at the learning center, Marty returns to South Dearborn for fourth and fifth periods. Then he goes to Batesville to spend his evenings working at Goodwill. Thanks to Mrs. Zinz and her on-the-job training program, Marty gets credit for his work at Goodwill.

As the job coordinator for the learning center, Zinz looks for jobs for the students and works out on-the-job training that will earn credits for them. Many times she even transports the students to their jobs.

In addition she coordinates the service learning program, a volunteer program for students as well as a mentoring program.

Even though it has taken Marty Bowling an extra year to complete his work for a high school diploma, he is enthusiastic about his success and the part the learning center has played in helping him to meet his goals.

The Southeast Learning Center motto defines what the staff and board of directors are doing: "Working together to help our youth help themselves to build their futures through education."

MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTO

Michael Ellis (left), a Switzerland County student, is making giant strides at the Southeast Learning Center, says Director Rick Stork (right).