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Proposal would turn Ridgewood High into a vocational-technical school

 
Officials are developing a proposal to convert Ridgewood High School into a magnet vocational-technical high school linked to neighboring Marchman Technical College. [JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK   |   Times]
Officials are developing a proposal to convert Ridgewood High School into a magnet vocational-technical high school linked to neighboring Marchman Technical College. [JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK | Times]
Published Sept. 6, 2017

LAND O'LAKES — Ridgewood High School, in the words of principal Chris Dunning, has been "having a challenging time for years."

Its state test scores have lagged for nearly a decade, with fewer than one-third of students at grade level or above in core subjects, and its campus climate and morale have sagged.

"We're at a point where we need to look at things a different way," said Dunning, who took over at the school in the spring.

That "different way" is a developing proposal to convert the west Pasco school to a magnet vocational-technical high school linked to neighboring Marchman Technical College. All Ridgewood students would be rezoned to other high schools, most likely Fivay or Hudson, and teens would have to apply to get back in.

It's not a new idea. District officials for years have kicked around the concept of developing a high school focused on career preparation, complete with college degree and industry certification options.

Yet the notion of applying it to Ridgewood only emerged publicly a week ago, as the superintendent's staff added it to the School Board's agenda for Sept. 5.

Facing unpalatable turnaround options required by the state if the school does not improve its state-assigned grade — a D for the past two years — superintendent Kurt Browning said he wanted to get ahead of the curve.

"We need to get stakeholders at the table. We need to have some very serious discussions about the future of Ridgewood High," he said. "I am not willing to give up a year of planning."

Browning repeatedly stated that the idea was under investigation and not a done deal.

Members of the public, including some students, attended this week's School Board meeting to voice their opposition.

Parent Ken Russ said he appreciates the need to prepare students for work. However, he told the board, Ridgewood is a long-standing community school that serves all children.

Just because past school leaders made poor decisions that hurt Ridgewood does not mean the entire community should suffer, Russ said.

The proposal includes changing the school's name and colors, and eliminating its sports teams.

"All I ask is that you keep your mind open," Russ said.

Sophomores Olivia Clark and Johnathon Ogden told the board their fears of being forced into different schools that do not have similar programs to Ridgewood's. They spoke particularly about ROTC, but also noted that many others might not be available to students.

"Most of these students, they're not going to like what's going on, as well as I don't think they'll succeed," Ogden told the board. He later said classmates already sounded despondent.

"I've heard kids say they're going to drop out because it's such a bad idea," Clark added.

Board members said they liked the concept in theory, but wanted more details before giving a thumbs up or down.

Board member Colleen Beaudoin said she agreed with the need to improve the school's culture and academics. But she, like others, wondered about the need to completely overhaul Ridgewood, bringing in a new set of students while sending the current ones away.

"My concern is for the students who are there now. We can change the culture of the school … but we still need to get the students to stay and graduate," Beaudoin said.

Board Vice Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong agreed. She noted that, with the admission requirements the district is considering, a majority of Ridgewood students would not qualify to attend.

That could have the net effect of simply moving the lowest-performing students to other schools, which would have to deal with them.

"We definitely don't want this situation to occur at another school because we simply are shuffling the students around," said Armstrong, who also raised questions about finding qualified technical instructors for the proposed programs.

Board member Steve Luikart, a former Ridgewood assistant principal, said he believed the district could modify the school's approach without completely overturning its existing model.

"I know there's a big need for training kids before they leave high school," Luikart said. "But I have some concerns."

He said he would not support the proposal as written, and asked for data to support the staff recommendations.

Luikart also planned to present some ideas of his own when the board returns to the topic. It is scheduled for another workshop Tuesday.

Contact Jeffrey S. Solochek at (813) 909-4614 or jsolochek@tampabay.com. Follow @jeffsolochek.