Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 6, 1993                   TAG: 9305060436
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

CRAIG COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FINDS DROPOUT-PREVENTION PROGRAM EFFECTIVE

She said 32 students who might have dropped out of school have been through the program and received tutoring at some point during this school year. Twenty-three are still in the program, said Barbara Winstead, tutoring coordinator. The others either didn't need additional tutoring or dropped out.

The program, financed by a $9,500 Virginia Dropout Prevention Grant from the state Department of Education, is for students in fifth through eighth grades, the level at which most dropout problems begin, said Assistant Superintendent Don Ford.

Students get individual counseling and work in small groups on self-esteem, leadership and social skills, career exploration and refusal skills. They also are tutored in their weakest subjects, usually reading, writing, math or spelling. Thirteen tutors participated.

This is the first year Craig has had the program, and school officials are planning to apply for another grant.

In other matters, the board:

Learned that two mobile units with two classrooms each to help relieve crowding in the permanent buildings will be ready for use when schools reopen in September.

Learned that 55 children registered for kindergarten April 20 and that more are expected by September. Superintendent Dallas Helems said the growing kindergarten classes may take up extra space being created by the four modular units.