South High principal credits new structures, staff and alternative pathways for post‑COVID turnaround

South High School Principal Rodney Gamen told the Washington County Public School Board of Education on Feb. 4 that a multi‑year effort to rebuild school structures, expand staff supports and add nontraditional pathways has reduced large hallway disruptions and helped more students earn credits toward graduation.

Gamen said the work began after the school returned from pandemic closures and staff and students ‘‘weren’t the same’’—national patterns compounded locally by widespread out‑of‑class time, fractured student relationships and older structures that no longer fit student needs. ‘‘The first challenge we had was what are we gonna do to get our kids back in class?’’ he said.

The principal described three main strategies: rebuilding operational structures, increasing schoolwide professional learning and creating alternative learning pathways. New operational changes included a six‑station tardy pass system that emails parents when students are late and an electronic hall pass system administrators and safety staff can monitor. Those systems are intended…