Board Gets Report On SOAR Program

Bourbon school board members received an end-of-year report on SOAR (Student Opportunity for Academic Recovery) June 15.

DiAnna Thompson, the district's director of special services, reported to the board that 23 students were in the program for 2016-2017.

Nine students graduated, which Thompson said is something to be proud of, otherwise, most may have dropped out.

"A couple of those were easy, a couple took everything (our staff) needed to get over the finish line," she said.

SOAR is an alternative option to high school for students under the age of 21. Thompson said there were staffing issues at times throughout the year. "We hired a para(professional), she left in October, we had nothing until January," Thompson said. "It was a rough go at the beginning and difficult getting things lined out there."

There are four students who will start in the program next year and four referrals were made. "I'm hoping next year to have a new paraprofessional with a strong behavioral background," Thompson said. "I'm ready to see SOAR shine."