internet and access to different resources, learning is not always going to be in a book,” Boles describes. “In one of them we’ve put in windows, we’ve got modern furniture that’s kind of relaxing and offers neat places and areas for them to work. It’s been well received, and it’s made a difference on the amount of traffic in our media center.” Other facility upgrades include secure keyless entry points for staff, and secured entryways in all buildings. “A few years ago, we moved the football field back to the High School, which was kind of a big deal to get it reconnected instead of being a mile down the road,” adds Boles.“Also, we’ve done STEM labs at both of our secondary schools, as a way to promote our curriculum for hands-on activities and help students better understand the concepts they’re learning in the classroom.” Another initiative is the addition of solar fields, contributing to energy savings, and providing a valuable learning opportunity for students.“We have a kiosk in our southern buildings so classes can look at that to see how much energy we’re saving,” Boles reports.“One building is 85% efficient, meaning the fields provide 85% electricity, and the other one is 100%.” CAREER READINESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Preparing students for life after graduation is a key initiative for Frankton-Lapel Schools, and in an effort to ensure every student has a clear post-secondary path, the district has revamped its approach to career pathways. “This year was our first year with a work based learning teacher for the district, and she’s helping to establish our foundation for internships and potentially apprenticeships, making connections with businesses in the community,” Smedley conveys. As a rural district students have opportunities to explore careers related to agriculture, as well as manufacturing, automotive and healthcare options, working for companies such as MoFab, Reynolds Farm Equipment, and Community Hospital. “We also have received a grant for a career awareness software program that we’ve implemented even at 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03 FRANKTON-LAPEL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
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