Danville — Danville High School is in the midst of a science teacher crisis, said Danville District 118 officials, but they are working more with the Danville Area Community College in delivering student courses.
In mid-July, the school district resigned one science teacher, and another stayed where she was teaching instead of taking a job here. This caused a last-minute scramble for this year’s senior anatomy and science class at DHS.
Kim Pabst, D118’s head of human resources, told the school board Wednesday night that some science classes, including those in advanced classes, would have to be discontinued. Some students are currently taking classes through DACC.
Some DHS students go directly to DACC, while others stay with DHS and take classes online.
A benefit of students having to take placement tests and classes through the DACC is dual enrollment for both high school and college credits.
A D118 official said they are working to send teachers out for at least one term to teach dual-enrolment classes in physical sciences for the second semester.
D118 officials said they are working with college-bound students to earn credits.
DACC teachers have also been to DHS in the past.
According to DACC’s Lara Conklin, dual enrollment is usually not related to whether there are enough teachers in a high school, allowing students to earn both high school and college credits, allowing them to pursue college careers. It’s meant to give you a head start. and discounts on their college fees.
Dual enrollment guarantees college credit as long as the student passes the class, but AP classes do not.
Earning dual credit means that the high school has agreed to award high school credit as well.
“We offer both traditional transfer courses and career (College Express) courses for dual credit. Faculty may be provided at the DACC.
College Express courses for DHS students are offered by the hour from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, five days a week. County schools drop off College Express students in the afternoon from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm.
DACC classes can be taken on campus or online during any of the three regular semesters (including summer).
The Danville School District is also short of other staff, including DHS and Northridge Middle School counselors and special education.
DHS students now have the same counselor for all four years. All her DHS counselors are also located in her one guidance office and are not scattered across different offices within the building.
Pabst reported that the school district had resigned 38 teachers from last school year and hired 18 new teachers.
They have filled staff members who are certified in core subjects.
Also, 12 teaching assistants have resigned and 10 have been hired so far.
She is losing teachers who have moved to other families or left to go with their spouses, some going to local school offices, online services, and some leaving teaching altogether. One Northridge Middle School teacher got a job at Red Bull.
Also on Wednesday night, the school board took no action against the school psychologist. The school district has two of her resignations and an hourly wage problem.
Enrollment is increasing at some schools this year as well.
Overall, about 200 students have declined over the past few years. If the district follows the trend, the district will see another overall decline.
Student registration continues.
Edison added 15 students to 176 students (with some pre-school influence), Liberty added 85 students (some are Garfield Elementary students), Mark Denman added 22 students, Meade Park lost 3 and Northeast added 33. Southwest adds 30 students (preschoolers are also having an impact).
The Northeast has students in grades 4 through 6.
Pre-K has 213 students in Edison and Southwest, and screenings continue to grow. We now have all-day programming.
D118 officials said they’ve seen a surge in new students enrolling in the school even after Chicago’s public schools started. The Chicago school will open on August 23rd this year.
Increased first day enrollment: DHS has 996 students, up from 918 last year. Northridge has her 464 students, up from 539 last year. Kenneth D. Bailey Academy has his 54 students, up from 80 last year. South View Upper Elementary School has 493 students, up from 470 last year, with 38 late enrollments underway.
Other late registrations can be seen: 10 for KDBA, 82 for DHS and 53 for NR.