Since the beginning of the 2012-13 school year, students at Kimball Jr. Sr. High School have had an alternative solution for graduation. VALTS, the Valley Alternative Learning Transitioning School, located at the Harms Center in Scottsbluff, is that alternative.
“A traditional school setting is not always the best learning environment for all students and VALTS caters to those students. It helps students that might be at risk to drop out and/or not obtain graduation requirements and keeps them on track towards obtaining a high school diploma,” Hanks said.
Students from Banner County, Bayard, Bridgeport, Gering, Kimball, Minatare, Mitchell, Morrill and Scottsbluff can attend VALTS and work towards a high school degree without referral, according to Hanks.
“Interested students are given a packet that explains the program and has an application that is filled out by the student and signed by his/her parent or guardian,” he added.
Kimball has graduated five students from VALTS since the 2012-13 school year, and each of those has received a Kimball Public Schools diploma as well.
Students learn the same basic curriculum as they would in “mainstream” schools, but the delivery methods are tailored to each individual students needs and learning styles, such as visual learners, auditory learners and kinesthetic or tactile learners.
The structure of the program may vary with each semester, but the goal of graduation remains unchanged.
In addition to teachers in each of the core subjects, VALTS uses a computer-based curriculum called A+ to supplement the students’ education.
While attending VALTS students either maintain a job or receive career training through Western Nebraska Community College.
Graduation through VALTS provides youth with a diploma and any Kimball student that graduates through the program also gets the opportunity to participate in the graduation ceremony and receive a Kimball diploma.
Transportation is provided to and from Scottsbluff for participating students at no cost.
When the program was first offered to Kimball youth, according to Kimball High School principal Eugene Hanks, just two spaces were made available for Kimball students, but that has increased to three spaces. Currently there is one opening for any Kimball student.
“A student needs to be either a junior or senior and have over 100 credits towards graduation. Students cannot be on an Individual Education Plan and/or on probation with law enforcement,” Hanks said. “We hope to have the remaining slot filled by the start of the second quarter.”
Any student or parent interested in more information is encouraged to contact Hanks, or Mr. Chauncey Pedersen, Kimball Jr. Sr. High School guidance counselor at 308-235-4861.