Whole Grade Sharing; Garner-Hayfield and Ventura Q/A

Will seniors be able to receive college credit at Garner-Hayfield Ventura High School?
There are several opportunities for students to get college credit at Garner Hayfield currently.  There is a Technology Hub, Health Hub, Automotive Hub, Tool and Die Hub, Animal Science and Principles of Crop Production I taught by Bob Baumgard, Intro to College Biology taught by Scott Vandusseldorp.  Ventura has offered Post Secondary Educational Opportunity courses in the past.  These have been online courses that state rules say students can take if their GPA is sufficient and they have exhausted course offerings at their high school.  Students at Garner Hayfield have not been involved in PSEO courses because students rarely exhaust course offerings. 

What is being done to allow Ventura seniors to spend a partial day at a work site?
Ventura seniors have never had the opportunity to attend a partial day of school and then spend the rest of the day working unless they had an IEP that required they work on job skills.  Garner Hayfield does have a student/work intern program, but it is rarely used.  This work release is something that would have to be communicated with the principal, Paul Schoneman. 

What recourse do incoming Ventura families have should issues arise with the GH School Board?
All high school students will be under the jurisdiction of the current GH Board.  The same holds true for all middle school students.  They will be under the jurisdiction of the current Ventura Board.

The only time a resident school board makes a decision on an individual student at the other school would be in the case of a suspension greater than 10 days. 

The two Boards will meet in joint sessions several times throughout the year.  This will be an opportunity for both Boards to share any concerns.

What is being done with the money raised by the Ventura Booster Club?
The Ventura Booster Club will become the Ventura/ Garner-Hayfield Junior High Booster Club.  Ventura will continue to have activities that will require the booster club’s help.  There will still be a need for help from the booster club and they will fill that role.  The funds that were earned in Ventura will stay in Ventura unless the booster clubs decide to do a joint project.

What will happen to scholarships that have been given to Ventura graduates in memory of a former Ventura resident?
Each school has excellent scholarship opportunities.  Every Scholarship has an individual or group that oversees it.  The caretakers of the scholarships decide the recipient of these scholarships. 

How is the current Ventura Foundation Money being spent and will that be affected by the connecting of the two schools?
Currently the Ventura Foundation provides an annual scholarship.  As with any other scholarship, it will be up to this group to determine who will be eligible for their scholarship.

Will both staffs share same contracts?
No.  The WGS agreement states that each school shall maintain their separate Master Contracts and salary schedules.  However, work has already begun to strive to make the Master Contracts and salary schedules more similar.

Why weren’t the uniforms changed to reflect a blending of the schools with a new mascot? 
All uniforms are being changed to represent the blending of schools.  The idea of a new mascot was considered and could be a topic for future discussions.  There is a substantial cost in changing a mascot.  For example, Ventura has a Viking on their gym floor, on their scoring table, on their mats under the baskets, on their scoreboards, in stained glass on the windows and on signs.  The colors of blue and yellow are painted on walls, are on the floor tiles.  Lockers were chosen with the school colors in mind.  The same is true at Garner Hayfield with their mascot and school colors. 

The sentiment seemed to be that what really matters for students’ futures is the education that they receive, and that this money would be better spent to increase academic opportunities. 

How do students find out of they qualify for the NIACC Hub Programs their senior year?  What are the requirements?
Students are made aware of qualifying for the Hubs by the Guidance counselor during the registration process.
The requirements are set by NIACC, which include prerequisite classes. 
These classes are located in the curriculum guide in guidance offices at both schools.

Are we getting new teachers?  Are we going to keep the coaches from Garner?
The staffing at both schools has yet to be determined.  It’s possible there could be new teachers and coaches as with any new school year.

Will Ventura continue to use the Block Schedule?
No.  The day will become a nine period day.

If my kids attend GH, can I pick them up?
Yes. 

Are the PE requirements the same at both schools?
Yes.  Both schools require four PE credits to graduate.

Will there be “Fun Nights” for the Middle School?
Yes. 

How will you provide busing?
Each District has agreed to a busing agreement. Both schools will provide busing for their resident students to get to and from school.
 

Ventura will be responsible for busing athletes, fine arts, etc to all middle school events and GH will be responsible for busing to all high school events.

Will there be activity passes for parents?
Each school has discounted ticket passes that parents can purchase.  Neither school currently has an activity pass that can be purchased for all events.

Will there be spectator buses made available for middle school students so they can stay in Ventura after school, watch JH athletic activities and have a ride back to Garner?
This will be brought up for discussion to the GH Board of Education.

Will student activity tickets be available for purchase by junior high students to get into varsity GHV games?
Yes.  All students in grades K-12 can purchase a season pass for all high school activities.  Last year’s price for this ticket was $15

I'm noticing on #4, it states PSEO courses are not offered.  At the meeting, the way I understood, it was just not that common.  So, are PSEO courses available to the student who does not fit into categories of the HUBS, or does Garner not offer that opportunity at all?  I do understand your stance about the student exhausting the many options Garner already offers.
Yes, PSEO classes can be taken if a student has exhausted the curriculum.  It is rare that a past GH student has taken a PSEO class for this reason.

Are Garner students going to get computers next year?
All students grades 9-12 will have their own Apple Macbook.  Elementary and Middle School students will have access to computers within each building, but not in a one-to-one program like the HS.

 How they will be deciding which school coaching staff will be coaching for next year’s sports seasons?
Each District is responsible for hiring their own coaching staff.  Grades 9-12 will be the responsibility of GH and 7-8 will be the responsibility of Ventura.  Consideration will be given to both current staffs as to who fills these roles.