Hall School Board looks beyond traditional school

GAINESVILLE - Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield Monday night told board members it's time to quit thinking in terms of the traditional high school diploma for some students.

Schofield wants to partner with Lanier Technical College to give students who won't have enough credit to graduate a chance at a G.E.D. diploma that leads to technical training and a job.

"Sometimes we have students who make poor decisions and who find themselves 17 and 18 years old who are not going to graduate," Schofield said. "We need to get serious and partner with Lanier Technical College and start giving these children an opportunity to pick up a GED and get the kind of skills that will help them to be successful in the work force or in higher education."

Schofield wants to put the program on steroids and come up with a formalized program with Lanier Tech.

GETTING CREDIT EARLY

Assistant Hall County School Superintendent Dr. Eloise Barron told board members there are cases where seniors need course credit at mid year rather than the end of the year.

Dr. Barron cited circumstances where it is beneficial to students to get the credit early.

"We have realized that there are some students who need to be able to earn the credit midyear," She said.

Barron said students who are leaving the school system, who need to change courses, and students who finish their graduation prep course work early need to get course credit at mid year.