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Program helps get students back in school Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Casey Lambert cuddles her 2-month-old son, Jordin, at Eagle Point High School's Options Program. The new alternative education program provides free day care for teenage parents, helping them concentrate on their studies. Eagle Point's Options also slows drain from transfers By DAMIAN MANN EAGLE POINT - When a fire gutted Mindy Harrington's house last year, claiming her brother and leaving her mother and sister seriously burned, getting an education was the furthest thing from her mind. After finally returning to Eagle Point High School, she discovered she had fallen too far behind in her studies. "I missed three months of school," remembers the 17-year-old. "Some of the teachers told me I'd been gone too long and should just drop out." Options can generate more money for schools With the Eagle Point School District facing budget cutbacks and layoffs, the new Options Program is actually a way to generate more money. Many students had been transferring to the Medford School District before the alternative education program began, resulting in a loss of about $5,000 per student. "The program actually provides more money for the district and helps with the district's report card by reducing our dropout rate," said Crystal Myers, teen parent program coordinator. But the district's cutbacks have affected the Options Program. Myers was informed that she will be laid off next year. "I was the first to go because I was just hired last year," she said. She will be replaced by another teacher who has more seniority. "It has been very sad for me," said Myers. "It was even difficult for me to talk about it at first." The district sent layoff notices to 71 employees because it needed to cut $1 million from its budget. The $325,000 necessary to create the Options Program came from funds that can only be expended to help students who are disadvantaged, including $300,000 from lottery and bond money and $25,000 from a state grant to help teen parents. Schools often receive money from the state or federal government that must be spent on something specific, such as textbooks or technology. The money cannot be included in the general fund to pay for such operating expenses as salaries or benefits. But thanks to a new program at Eagle Point, Harrington had an option. Using a combination of grants, lottery money and special funding, the school district opened a new Options Program to help 92 students like Harrington get back on track. This alternative education program officially opened its new facility two weeks ago, offering day care to parenting teens and giving other students a second chance to get their high school diplomas. The district converted a former church at 129 Platt St. into a sanctuary for students, remodeling the chapel and altar into a computer lab and study area. Harrington says she's finally catching up. "I'll be going to regular school to take some of the electives," she said. "But I actually like staying here better." Crystal Myers, teen parent program coordinator, said, "Many of the students have just grown up so fast that they prefer the environment we offer here." Previously, many of the students had to transfer to the Medford School District to receive alternative education, resulting in a loss of revenues to Eagle Point. Myers said the program has many "dropout recoveries" - students who left the high school but come to her program to finish their education. "That is part of the challenge of what we do here," she said. "Once we get them to re-enroll, if they drop out again then that goes against us." Each time a student drops out, it is counted against the district, giving it a worse score on the state's report card on education. Self-esteem is one of the primary issues facing many of these students, said Myers. Classes are offered to help students surmount some of their personal obstacles. Teen mothers find the program, which offers free day care, particularly important to helping them receive an education while raising a child. "I don't think I would have stayed in school if it weren't for this program," said Casey Lambert, 18. She was out of school for six weeks after giving birth to her son, Jordin, now 2 months old. Even with the Options Program, Lambert admits things can be difficult as a teenage parent. "I have had to grow up so fast. It's hard." After she graduates, she plans to live with her husband, Bruce, who is stationed in Pensacola, Fla. Options Program facts Number of educators: 5 Teen Parent Program: 10 teen parents; 4 pregnant teens Academic programs: Students working toward a general equivalency diploma: girls, 15; boys, 14. Students working toward a high school diploma: girls, 30; boys, 33. Total number of students attending: 92. Trista Axtell, 16, said the day-care center has been especially helpful as she raises her daughter, 8-month-old Traci. "Whenever she cries, they just come over and get me." At the facility, there is a special room set aside for the babies to sleep in and be monitored. This allows the mother to go to another part of the building to study or take a class. Axtell said that after school, she goes to a job and leaves her daughter with ta baby sitter. Although some residents have objected to the teen parenting program, Myers said it is important to make these students viable members of society. If they don't get an education, they are less employable and become more of a burden on society, she said. "By no means do we want them to feel they're making a mistake," she said. But family planning is an important topic of conversation between Myers and the teen parents. "Part of it is just continuing to develop their self-esteem," she said. "We try to get them to make better choices in the future." Classes are offered in child development, parenting and life skills for students who are already struggling, she said. "They're single parents trying to manage being young and not having financial stability, and a lot of them don't have a secure place to live - plus trying to work on their education to improve themselves." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.