November 7, 2005   

Douglass Students Receive Tutoring Over Holiday Break as District Prepares for Move to New School

OKLAHOMA CITY – Douglass High Schools students will enjoy an additional reason for celebration this holiday season when they return to classes in a brand new high school on January 18, 2006 – the first completed new school as part of MAPS for Kids.

The move-in schedule has been under discussion in past Board of Education meetings and during Monday’s meeting board members were told students would miss half the number of days originally scheduled for relocation to the new building. Teachers will also prepare tutoring packets in the core subjects so students can keep pace with other secondary students and still be prepared for end-of-instruction testing in April.

“We went back to the drawing board after concerns were raised because we know our top priority is providing a quality education to our students. District staff and construction crews have worked together to adjust their own holiday schedules for the benefit of the children and their education,” says Dr. Linda Ware Toure, Executive Director of Student Performance for the Douglass High School Learning Community.

“As a result, students will only miss three to five days of classes as opposed to the 10 first proposed.”

Toure adds students from the class of 2006 look forward to being the first graduating class from the new school. “They will be able to realize this dream without

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missing more than five days of classes; however, students will still be expected to complete study packets for credit and will also be offered tutoring during the extended break.”

Depending on a student’s block schedule, either three or five instructional days will be missed but teachers in core subjects will prepare winter study packets with educational materials that are consistent with Oklahoma State Department of Education expectations. Students will also be offered tutoring sessions on January 9, 10 and 11 in the media center of the old high school.

 “Everyone is excited about the new high school and we continue to work together to make it a positive experience for all,” Toure comments in closing.

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