Graduation rate near crisis stage

Local business leaders and educators came together Monday evening to address the future of Bedford County students. About 30 were in attendance in the auditorium at Shelbyville Central High School, and left in agreement to work together to improve graduation rates.

According to state report card figures released this month, Bedford County's 2010 graduation rate was 79.3 percent, well below the state goal of 90 percent. The state average stands at 85.5 percent.

Different world

"If you walked into a high school today, you'd be in a foreign country, you'd think," said Linda Yockey, longtime educator and graduation coach at SCHS. "How students move through high school today is completely different than what you did when you were in school."

Students have opportunities for success that prior classes did not, Yockey explained.

"We do online classes, we have one child this year who graduated and never put his foot in the school door."

Students may also take advantage of credit recovery programs, or extra credit assignments to make the grades up.

Constant struggle

Yet every day, other students struggle just to get to school. Some face economic and family challenges.

"They walk in and say, 'Mrs. Yockey, I know you're going to fuss at me, I know I haven't been to school in three or four days, but I didn't have any gas money," she said.

However, nearly each school day a student in the system drops out.

Yockey says she hears too frequently, "I'm 18, My momma didn't graduate, my daddy didn't graduate, I don't see the point, and I'm outta here."

Pressing needs

The value of work and earning a living becomes a practical matter. Yockey said one student told her, "I've got a job sawing lumber that will pay $16 an hour. I don't have any money, I'm practically living in my car. I've got to have this job."

According to Yockey she knows of a handful of students who work from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., or have 2 to 11 p.m. shifts who work then try to come to school.

Administrators do everything they can to help, to make accommodations, but school is only one part of the equation.

Plea for help

"We cannot do this by ourselves," Yockey said.

"If you are a business person, I want you to help these children, ask to see their report card. Give them incentives. High school people, they don't want little prizes, they want something that means something to them. If it doesn't make their car go, or if they can't eat it, it's not an incentive anymore."

Dawn Holley, director of United Way of Bedford County pledged the organization's support, as did Ben Craig, president of the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce.

Support offered

"The Chamber board of directors voted unanimously to support this Board of Education initiative," Craig said. "We want to help get the message out in the community and, more specifically, in the commercial and manufacturing sector of our community," said Craig.

He spoke of the research conducted by industrial prospects before they visit a potential site.

"The prospect will research many aspects of our community, from reading the local paper to a set of demographics which includes the graduation rate," Craig said. "The company will do research and ask if we have the workforce pool to run that equipment efficiently, effectively to meet the demands of productions and to have success."

Double experience

Lisa Moore, new director of the Middle Tennessee Education Center, offered her experience in both education and the business sector.

"I know what employers want. I know what is going on in colleges, and I can tell you ... you have high school graduates who are not prepared for college.

"My request to employers is that you change your hiring policies. Expect your new hires to have a high school graduation or a GED, unless they are over 21.

"What I promise you, if you will call me, I will help you with your recruiting strategies. There is a way to employ the workforce you need, and not hire a 16-year-old that really needs to be finishing his education."

Attitude change

Superintendent Dr. Ray Butrum spoke of the accountability the schools have for the graduation rate.

"Now try to hold accountability for a 17- or 18-year-old kid that doesn't have the support at home -- or if they do, it's not the sort that values education," he said. "Bedford County is such a close-knit community, surely ... if we could get the community engaged, we could get the students to value graduation.

" ... Eventually the kids are going to realize that 'I can't even get a job in this county if I'm not in school, because my boss is going to say, 'If you don't stay in school, you don't work for me.' ... I hope this auditorium is eventually full of business leaders who say we understand what we need to do, and that we're committed to doing it together."

City Mayor Wallace Cartwright and County Mayor Eugene Ray also spoke briefly.