Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Viking Success topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students say Viking Success credit‑recovery program helped them finish high school
Summary
At a Huntington schools board meeting, two seniors and program staff described Viking Successas a flexible credit‑recovery program that pairs academic courses with mental‑health supports and incentives; administrators said virtual platforms and targeted supports also extend the programreach.
Coach Malone and Mr. Box told the school board that Viking Success is built to help students recover missing credits while also addressing life challenges that interrupt learning. "We provide a caring and supportive environment," Coach Malone said, noting the program handles scheduling conflicts, injuries and other nonacademic obstacles.
Two seniors described how the program changed their paths. "I was homeschooled all the way up until my junior year ... I had 30 to earn, and, yeah, I've completed them all," said Megan Gillian, who told the board she could graduate with her class because of the program. Mason, a senior who has been in the program since his sophomore year, said, "I've gone from this program and without this, I wouldn't have been able to graduate." Both students credited staff with keeping them on track and helping them finish required credits.
Program staff described regular supports and incentives. Malone said the school coordinates with guidance counselors and special‑education teachers, and that the school nurse meets weekly for mental‑health check‑ins. Staff also mark each earned credit on a classroom "graduation cap" display and run short drawing and donut celebrations to acknowledge students who recover credits.
Board members praised the program and asked about how virtual learning platforms intersect with credit recovery. The chair and other administrators noted the district uses three online platforms (Apex, Courseware and EdOptions) for virtual instruction and scheduling flexibility; the chair said 53 students were counted as full‑time virtual on the most recent count day and described virtual programming as supplementing in‑person supports.
The board said it will continue to monitor program needs and welcomed staff suggestions for material or space improvements. The meeting closed the program segment by congratulating the students and asking administrators to return with updates as the district scales supports next year.
