Back to School

by Ruth Nelson

The Brainerd School District, located in central Minnesota, is a rural district with a high percentage of Title One students. When additional federal funding became available through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds , Marlee Larson, Principal of the Alternative Learning Center, was confident she could use these funds to help her students succeed and graduate. She knows these students often come from disadvantaged and troubled backgrounds, have a high risk of dropping out, and need additional support to succeed in school. She already had one school counselor meeting one-on-one with some of her 280 students, but he couldn’t reach all of the kids that needed help. Utilizing some of the district’s ARRA funds, Larson was able to hire another counselor, Gary Gunderson, Ed.D.

President Barack Obama’s goals for transforming education support Larson’s plans. In an education speech this month President Obama said, Of course, getting it right requires . . . giving students who are behind in school a chance to catch up and a path to a diploma.  It requires focusing on students, from middle school through high school, who face factors at home, in the neighborhood, or in school that put them at risk of dropping out . . . So thats why well build on the efforts of places like Communities in Schools that make sure kids who are at risk of dropping out have one-on-one support. Thats why well follow the example of places like the Met Center in Rhode Island that give students that individual attention . . . Its also why well foster better alternative high schools and transfer schools, where students who have dropped out and who are at risk of dropping out, can return to the classroom and earn their diploma.

Larson assigned Dr. Gunderson to meet individually each week with 34 of her high risk students to help provide the extra support they need to succeed in life and to graduate high school. Gunderson is booked solid on Tuesdays and Thursdays to meet with these students. He often brings his certified therapy dog, Kaiser, to help break down the emotional barriers these students bring with them. Many of these students come from difficult backgrounds and have dealt with domestic violence, chemical dependence, grief and loss issues and severe depression. Students’ time with Gunderson count as a health and wellness credit, necessary for graduation in Minnesota, so even students who are not readily interested in accepting one-on-one help have an incentive to meet with Gunderson.

Dr. Gunderson said, Schools are changing, the line between what is an educational issue and what is an emotional issue is being blurred. We need to continue to find more ways to support the emotional needs of our students. When I can help them deal effectively with their struggles outside of the classroom, then I see great success in their academic lives. And this is what it is all about, helping kids succeed both in school and in life.

Brainerd’s Alternative Learning Center is focused on helping at risk and struggling students thrive in the classroom. And with the help of some additional ARRA funds, Principal Marlee Larson and Dr. Gary Gunderson, this job just became a little bit easier.

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