‘Panthers First’ project tackles freshman failure rates
Park Rapids Area teachers share a research-based project that they hope will reduce the number of freshmen failing classes. 7:00 am, Apr. 9, 2021 ×
Teacher Brent Vandal explains the evidence connecting the transition from eighth to ninth grade with high school failure rates during the Park Rapids School Board s April 6 meeting. (Robin Fish/Enterprise)
A group of teachers, some of them doing graduate work, told the Park Rapids School Board on Tuesday, April 6 about their action research project, “Panthers First,” aimed at reducing failure rates among high school freshmen.
Establishing the need
Teacher Brent Vandal showed the school board a chart of the average number of failing students during the first trimester from 2018 to 2020, broken down by grade level. Ninth graders had the most failing grades, while failure rates dropped with each succeeding class.
Marcussen advised the school board on Feb. 1 about the safety precautions that will be in place. 12:00 am, Feb. 7, 2021 ×
Park Rapids Area High School (Enterprise file photo)
Middle school science teacher Morgan Marcussen updated the Park Rapids School Board on Feb. 1 about plans for a school trip to Washington, D.C., this summer.
“We are going still, July 8-11, and the company has just updated some safety protocols,” Marcussen reported via Zoom. “I just wanted to let you guys know some of the things they’re going to do to keep everybody safe.”
She described the tour group’s COVID-19 protocols, including daily health screenings and temperature checks, mask wearing, handwashing, complying with in-flight requirements and traveling around Washington with a charter bus all to themselves.