LAST CHANCE SCHOOL
Brunswick Learning Center
Offers Many A Fresh Start
BY SUSAN USHER
A willingness to try. That's all Principal Robert
Rhvnc is asking of students who comc to The
Brunswick Learning Center.
The center is the Brunswick County Schools' answer
for middle and high school students who simply aren't
making it in a traditional school setting because of high
absenteeism or other inappropriate behavior. Most have
fallen behind academically as well.
Center doors will also open to drop-outs who want
to return to school.
Over the next several weeks Rhvnc will continue
moving quick-step, trying to build a school ? pulling to
gether a plant, a staff and a smooth referral process to
bring in students.
If a waiver is approved, he hopes to open the center
to students a few days late, after Labor Day, giving he
and his staff time to pull together as a work team and to
get the referral process working smoothly between the
center and the four middle schools and three high
schools that will be transferring students to the center.
With or without more time, he says, "We'll be ready to
roll when the time comes, and with a smile."
Plans call for temporarily locating the center for sev
eral months in five divided classrooms on the Bruns
wick Community College campus in Southport while
other quarters are renovated. Pending final approval by
the BCC Board of Trustees, the school expects to move
into the white concrete block building on the former
BCC campus at Supply that now houses the Brunswick
County Literacy Council and the Department of Motor
Vehicles School Bus Drivers Training office.
"We're going to need every inch of space we can
squeeze out there," said Rhyne. "Right now we're plan
ning on bringing ir several mobile units as well. We're
going to be short on space."
Because students will have to transfer buses to reach
the school, the center will operate on a slightly abbrevi
ated daily schedule, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The philosophy of the center is simple: In a new set
ting with a small, determined staff offering lots of indi
vidual attention, students will have one last chance to
make a fresh start, to work out any problems they have
and become successful students.
When a student is referred from their home school,
the parents or guardians, the student and Rhyne will
meet.
"I will explain our program and what we have to of
fer, an alternative way to graduate from high school, to
prepare for the workplace, for life," said Rhyne. The
student and his or her parent must both sign an agree
ment. The student must agree that he is willing to at
tempt to behave.
"We want a student to want to be here and to be will
ing to try. If they have to spend a few days at home to do
that, they will."
The final placement decision is up to a school plan
ning management team that includes representation
from the student's home school and the center.
For most of the students who come to The
Brunswick Learning Center, it is the school of last
chance.
** If they choose not to sign or not to adhere to the
contract." said Rhyne, "if they arc under 16 they will be
sent to the courts and if they're over 16, they'll go into
the work force."
Rhyne is excited about the school's potential and is
eager to see it prove itself within the school system and
gain a permanent niche.
"We are going to be so successful." he predicts, see
ing little comparison between the center and the county
system's former Alternative School. "I don't see how we
can fail with the staff we're pulling together and the to
tal commitment I sense within the system to make it a
success."
Rhyne cites his immediate supervisor. Assistant
Superintendent Oscar Blanks, as an example. "He is
willing to go to any lengths to make sure we have the
staff and whatever else this program needs to succeed."
The school will also operate under the supportive um
brella of the new Communities in Schools program.
Rhyne has had previous administrative experience at
both the high school and middle school levels. A
Brunswick County Schools employee since 1979, he has
served as middle grades supervisor, principal of South
Tennessee Men Charged With Hoiden Break-ins
Holden Beach Police have arrest
ed two Tennessee men in conncction
with a series of four break-ins that
occuned Friday night.
Police Chief Robert Cook said au
thorities arrested Charles Joseph
Merritt. 17, and Shane Anthony
Pate, 20, both of Fairview, Tenn.
Each is charged with four counts
of felony breaking and entering, and
both men arc being held in
Brunswick County Jail under $5,000
secured bond.
Cook said the break-ins occurred
at 246, 250 and 262 Ocean Blvd.
West and 241 Brunswick Ave. West.
The chief said the two suspects
allegedly took approximately $6,500
in items from the four homes. All of
the items were later recovered.
The most valuable items taken
were nine diamond rings valued at
more than $5,000. Rare coins and
two pistols were taken from the
same residence.
Reported missing from the other
three homes were a men's racing bi
cycle, two fishing rods, tackle box,
bike helmet and cordless telephone.
Cook said.
Cook said the suspects had been
renting a home in the Holden Beach
area. Most of the items reporting
missing from the homes were found
at the suspects' residence.
"Everything they got we recov
ered," Cook said. "TWo of the rings
were already in the hock shop in
Myrtle Beach."
A CHANCE TO SUCCEED. That^whatPrincipal Bob
Rhyne believes The Brunswick Learning Center offers stu
dents who aren Y making Mima traditional middle or high
school setting. The new school will be temporarily located at
Brunswick Community College's Southporl campus.
1
Brunswick Middle School and assistant principal at
South Brunswick High School.
Expecting to serve 100 to 120 students during the
1994-95 school year, the school will offer a basic cur
riculum plus vocational education and work force prepa
ration skills. Instruction will also be computer-aided us
ing a variety of software Rhyne expects to purchase as
additional binding for the center becomes available.
Seven computers will soon be in place, all for classroom
use.
Rhyne is working with Brunswick Community
College to arrange for students to take some vocational
training through the college. The principal also wants to
establish a community work-study program and, eventu
ally, a job placement service.
Rhyne said the center will offer a teacher-student ra
tio of 1 to 10, topping out perhaps at 12 students in a
class; ungraded classes; a "very, very strong staff," and
ready access lo a guidance counselor, school psycholo
gist, nurse and other support services available within
the school system and from community agencies.
Students will also participate in adviser/advisee groups
for 30 minutes each day, a time set aside for building life
skills such as self-concept and respect.
Once admitted to the school, each student will take
diagnostic tests in math and reading.
"Classes are non-graded. We're going to teach these
students where they are and move them along as fast as
they choose to go," said Rhyne.
While there are plenty of different reasons students
have behavior problems, Rhyne said a need for attention
often figures into the mix.
"We want to show them they can get the attention
they want by achieving academically. These kids for the
most part have a lot of ability. I think most will zoom
ahead when they start seeing they can succeed."
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