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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... EDUCATION Sen. Merkley talks 'Big Idea' with McLoughlin students Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 26, 2015 at 2:21 PM Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:13 AM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 26, 2015 at 2:21 PM Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:13 AM » Social News U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley started his visit with hundreds of area seventh-graders Tuesday with two questions: How many students are planning to graduate high school? How many are planning to go to college? Most of the students in McLoughlin Middle School's packed auditorium — students who are part of the United Way of Jackson County's Big Idea education program — answered with raised hands. "That's tremendous," Merkley said. United Way's Big Idea program has been working toward one goal: a perfect graduation rate for the class of 2020's 1,000-plus students in the Medford and Illinois Valley school districts. Merkley visited with the students as the program's second year draws closer, giving a short talk on the importance of staying in school and encouraging them to keep working toward that diploma. "There are a couple things about the Big Idea program that make a lot of sense to me," Merkley said to students. "One is that it's conveying the notion that there is a way for every one of you to take your lifetime, take your time on this planet, and do great things with it. My dad would say to me when I was in elementary school, he'd say, 'If you go through those doors of that grade school, and you work hard, you can do almost anything here in America.'" But the numbers show many district students — more than one-third, according to recent data released by the Oregon Department of Education — haven't been taking that notion to heart. In 2014, Medford's four-year graduation rate was 65.2 percent, down from 2013's 67.3 percent and below the reported state average of about 72 percent. "A lot of kids aren't motivated to work in high school because they can't see a pathway after high school," Merkley said. "This is providing that vision." Big Idea founder and United Way of Jackson County Executive Director Dee Anne Everson wants to change that to a perfect score for the class of 2020. She acknowledges it will be a challenge, as many students involved come from financially distressed homes. Data from the Medford School District show close to 69 percent of McLoughlin students were on the free and reduced lunch program during the 2013-14 school year. "Some kids have everything thrown at them, and some kids don't have access to much," Everson said. "So for us, if we can help them individually, and collectively, as a whole group, we have a better shot." Everson added that the program hopes to achieve that by keeping students appraised of what opportunities are available. Program officials have taken students to Southern Oregon University for educational visits, held career fairs and helped individual students pay for a variety of equipment and services: eyeglasses, choir outfits, shoes and books, for example. "We've paid for physical therapy for a kid," Everson said. "For us it's about, 'What do you do to make sure that a kid can actually learn when they're at school?'" Everson said making sure the expectations for students are clear is another important facet. "When you look at other communities that have dramatically higher graduation rates and completion rates, often it's that there is a community expectation and people talk about it," Everson said. "And in Medford, we have the opportunity to talk a lot more about high school completion. "We didn't get down in the 60th percentile by paying attention to them." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 26, 2015 at 2:21 PM Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:13 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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