Beyond books
Winooski High School looks to change with the times

Brian Madden | staff writer

Winooski Public High School is working toward change in the face of low enrollment.  The already low population and unique demographic of the student body are proving to be difficult hurdles, but faculty is searching for creative solutions.

What’s the problem?

Winooski Public High School is the smallest public school in its district, totaling only 231 students.  That’s at least four times smaller than any other public school in the area.  Projections show a downward trend in enrollment as well, according to the Vermont Society for the Study of Education.

Up-to-date technology and internship opportunities could possibility raise enrollment at Winooski Public High School. Larry Frisoli, photo

Principal Stephen Perkins says this is a common trend at both state and nationwide levels.  Eighty-two percent of the seniors at Winooski High School graduated last year, according to Perkins. This comes as a concern to teachers like first-year teacher Anja Mosehauer.

“Obviously lower numbers means less positions,” she says. “There are bound to be changes. It will be a few years but they’re doing everything they can.”

Perkins added that it takes 'X' amount of teachers to run a school operation correctly and when it comes to the taxpayers' money, it's all about cost per student.  He says more often these days, it’s becoming cheaper for the average taxpayer to send their kids somewhere else.

“We’re all piled on the end of the cliff with this problem,” Perkins says.   

Familiar faces

Mosehauer says she has a good relationship with every student who walks into the room during class and after hours.  She likes the small environment because it gives her a chance to know her students, she says.

The small environment allows for more personal and hands on teaching methods, which is typically uncharacteristic of public schools.

“We all prefer the small school environment,” Perkins says.

Still, ideas are being discussed to improve the appeal of the school to people in the area and even outside the city.

According to Perkins, the development of such ideas will take a minimum of three years; year one to formulate ideas, year two to schedule it; and year three to go operational.

“It’s important to separate the scheduling year from the ideas because it precludes the ability to think about what's best for students,” Perkins says.

The idea of personalizing student schedules has been discussed rather than requiring that all students be present from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..  This is made possible by allowing students the option of taking online courses.

Currently there are six online courses being offered though the school’s resource center.  Perkins says the major concerns with online classes are knowing how to use the technology and the lack of supervision, in comparison to a conventional classroom.

Located at 60 Normand St., this facility hosts the junior and senior high schools, as well as elementary level education. Larry Frisoli, photo

“Most people like to be spoon-fed,” Perkins says. “But the program is working well, very well.”

He says online courses are a great option for students who are more driven.  Perkins says these students can get out, work and take online courses at night. 

Individualizing an educational program for all students might also help, he says.  Administrators say special education students should not be the only ones with a personal education method.  This approach aims to solve the dilemma of student who would otherwise drop out for not getting much out of the conventional system.  However, it’s important that the school maintain a curriculum for all students that is acceptable to the school board so that it may remain a credited institution.

Beyond high school

Junior class adviser Courtney Poquette and Perkins agree that the ability to build relationships is a key factor in the educational process.  Perkins graduated from the University of Maine, University of Vermont and St. Michael’s College, where he got his master's degree.  Perkins says these relationships may play a key role in the plans to set up internship options for students, making use of college networking.   

“We have all of these schools around us which may provide for a better education in junior and senior year,” Poquette says.

She says a lot of schools don’t have the resources around them that Winooski High does and for that they are fortunate.  A number of student teachers from St. Michael’s teach at Winooski every year.  According to Perkins, a number of them have even been hired as full-time teachers after graduation.

Principal Perkins, at Winooski Public High School obtained his master's degree at St. Michael’s College. Larry Frisoli, photo

The internship options and ability for students to work a job around a flexible schedule are both efforts to better prepare them for college, Poquette says .  She says a lot of students feel the need to attend college after graduation.

According to Perkins, financing is the biggest problem faced by students looking to go to college. 

“That doesn’t mean there isn’t desire,” Perkins says.

He says 22 percent of students are immigrants from poor African and Asian countries.  Not only is there a large percentage of English learning students, but he says there’s a 35 percent turnover rate as well.

When it comes to the low numbers and sports teams, Dennis Filion who has been teaching at Winooski High for 33 years and coaches the varsity baseball and girls basketball teams, comments that the problem runs deeper than low enrollment, but it’s, "lack of participation," he says.

“I think it's lack of commitment," he says. "In a small school, a little apathy is a big percentage."

According to Filion, the demographic of the student body is such that there are few stable and seasoned athletes at the high school level.  Much of Winooski’s resident population rents housing.  Combined with low numbers and a high immigrant population, he says few kids have ever played baseball by the time they reach him. 

“There’s about 20 percent or more immigrants from mostly Asian and African countries,” he says, “Many have never played basketball or baseball before.  Soccer does pretty well though.”