Danielle Foley, assistant principal for alternative education pathways at Timberlane Regional High School, brought parents to the board Wednesday to describe how the district’s evening-division and HiSET programs supported students who had struggled in traditional settings. “He just under you know, he just wanted to be in a room by himself and to study,” Donna said of her son, who completed HiSET, while Foley said the program runs Monday through Thursday roughly 4 to 7 p.m. and “as soon as the students show that they understand the material…then they are free to go.”

Parents credited smaller classes, one-on-one help and competency-based pacing for their children’s progress. One parent said her son, previously disengaged and on an IEP, now looks forward to school and is “on the course for graduation,” after participating in night school rather than dropping out. Foley added that some students complete work earlier than the scheduled block if they demonstrate mastery, and that teachers can provide individualized support during the evening sessions.

Board members thanked the parents for sharing their experiences and noted the programs’ role in preventing students from “falling through the cracks.” The board did not take formal action on the programs during the meeting; the remarks occurred during the student, staff and family share portion of the agenda.

The board’s packet and administrators’ remarks indicate the programs are an established option for Timberlane students; questions raised at the meeting focused on transportation challenges for families and the scheduling that drives the evening model.