Click here: “We had this sense of urgency. We were learning about the realities of these kids’ situations. We thought—if we don’t do something, we’re going to lose a lot of kids and it’s not fair to them,” said Vern Reed, at-risk coordinator for the school district. The board approved funding to reimagine the existing at-risk program and remove the stigma that it was only for at-risk students. Renamed ‘The Corners Program’, the purpose was and is today to let all kids know they are welcome in the program and help each student achieve success, whether a student is a valedictorian, receiving special education services, living in poverty, or they simply want extra help with classes. The program offers services including online learning, study hall, scholarship help and assistance for seniors and at-risk youth. To date, the board has allocated approximately $25,000 toward the Corners Program and Bridges initiative. The results they are seeing far outweigh the cost. In 2017, four years after the Corners Program launched, West Burlington’s graduation rate is now at 98 percent, up from 88.3 percent in 2013. “We are here to graduate and educate kids, help them in their future. Not graduating is the worst-case scenario,” said Dave Schmitt, West Burlington superintendent.
