School Improvement Plan Report

Executive Summary

New Horizons Learning Center opened as a new school in the 1997-98 school year. When the school opened its responsibilities included operations at the main campus, 3100 Minnesota Ave, and operations at the Regional Juvenile Detention Center, the Sheriff’s Office Boot Camp Program, Panama City Marine Institute and HOPE (Helping Ourselves Progress Effectively). As the school evolved several programs migrated to other organizations for their administration. Since the 2001-2002 school year New Horizons Learning Center has been primarily responsible for operations at the main campus and one remote site: SOS. (Starting Over Straight) a substance abuse center located at Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort, Inc. 4000 East Third Street, Panama City, Florida.

New Horizons serves two special student populations. It is the Bay District School’s center based school for SED (Severely Emotionally Disturbed) middle and high school students and also services students expelled or referred from the Bay District School’s middle and high schools through the REACH (Retrieving and Enhancing Academic Choices) program.

Currently the student population is served by a campus of classrooms made of portable units. A permanent structure is programmed within the next five years. Student facilities and programs include primary classroom instruction and assorted electives including Art, Music, Horticulture, Food Preparation, Computer Applications, Career Awareness and Orientation, Social Personal Skills, Employability Skills, and Physical Education classes.. Plant facilities include a media center, computer lab, a television studio, physical education room, woodworking shop, greenhouse and garden area, an art and music room and a classroom cooking facility.

All classrooms and office spaces are connected through New Horizons LAN (Local Area Network). This access includes email services and internet access. Primary academic classrooms include a teacher computer station and two to five student workstations. Each workstation has access to the school’s technology based instructional and assessment programs. These include a tutorial program Successmaker (Also known as CCC [Computer Curriculum Corporation]), the assessment programs STAR (Student Testing for the Achievement of Reading) Reading and Math, and Accelerated Reader. Through these programs students are provided personalized instruction in reading and math that is targeted towards their respective instructional needs. A review of student data through the years that New Horizons has been in operation consistently points to our students being behind in both reading and math. As a result we have aggressively pursued the teaching of math and reading throughout our curriculum and have continuing education for our teachers through training and targeted in-service programs in teaching these subjects.

Due to the behavior problems of the populations served by New Horizons Learning Center there is a focus on behavior modification. Incentive programs promote making the right choices and include a school store and various student activities for positive behavior reinforcement. Students participate in a levels and points system detailed in the student and teacher handbook and tracked through weekly point sheets. When severe behaviors occur they are handled by a primary response team trained in non-violent crisis intervention techniques. A dedicated building is provided for students who require an extended time out period to regain their classroom composure. Student behavior and well being is monitored on a regular basis by the school Discipline Team. They review discipline referrals and insure that the school’s discipline plan is a dynamic process that reflects concern for both promoting student learning and student safety.

Since the establishment of New Horizons Learning Center the staff has been engaged in a continuous improvement process. In addition to this accreditation process teachers have participated in various workshops that focus on both discipline and academic topics. Teachers and staff have also actively pursued grants that provide our students with opportunities to engage in cultural, academic and community service programs.

In the pages that follow, the committee members have analyzed our school, extracted the data germane to our mission and have produced recommendations that have been incorporated into our Bay District Schools School Improvement Plan. I think you will find that it reflects the professionalism and consensus of our faculty and staff as they strive to bring life to our motto in our student’s lives: Achieving Success in a Changing World.