Summer schooling

Mel Feroli has been a counselor at Purcell High School for 20 years.

And this year is the first in her experience that the high school has offered summer classes.

In years gone by, Mid-America Technology Center did offer credit recovery classes.

But those were open to students from all schools served by MATC.

This is different, she said, and not just because it is pandemic-driven.

The planning began after spring break, leading to a 3-prong summer offering.

The execution of that plan started June 7.

Some students opted for an ACT prep class that is being offered virtually.

Forty-two students signed up initially, but Feroli says not all have followed up by logging on.

The prep class is self-paced and will remain open to those students through June 30.

The class includes review segments in each of the ACT testing areas – English, math, reading, science and writing.

Each review segment is followed by the test for that topic.

Social studies teacher and coach David Sikes is available to assist the ACT prep students.

Feroli said some students take advantage of the option to retake some sessions.

She added that juniors take the ACT as their state test.

The second prong is voluntary participation working on math and reading skills.

That class consists of 18 high school students and 13 junior high schoolers.

It meets in the high school library and there are two teachers – Katie Clayton and Rachel Barnett – present, as well.

The class meets in person from 9 a.m. until noon Monday through Wednesday and Thursday is a virtual day.

Credit recovery is the third prong, allowing students to complete requirements and resolve an incomplete grade.

A dozen students are enrolled and that instruction is all in person.

The emphasis is on English taught by Feroli and math taught by Bryan Young.

Participation is voluntary, but it isn’t rocket science to figure out that 12 days in the summer is a better option than a full semester come fall, Feroli said.

In fact, some students are able to recover those credits in as little as one or two days.

The summer schedule also includes some special education offerings, as well as students for whom English is a second language.

With the exception of the ACT prep, the summer classes  will run through June 24.

Feroli admits she was a little skeptical about the numbers, but now she’s convinced the summer session has been “very positive” for all concerned.

“It’s been a really good thing,” she said, adding she anticipates the session is here to stay “in some capacity.”