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Columbia City High presenters outline Service Academy supports, survey and enrollment
Summary
At the May 18 Whitley County board meeting, Columbia City High School presented year‑two progress for its Service Academy — student ambassador and mentoring programs, a Student Success Program, survey results showing 91% of respondents named an adult they can turn to, and enrollment updates; presenters said the model is in ongoing development.
Columbia City High School representatives described progress on the school’s Service Academy at the Whitley County Consolidated Board of Trustees meeting on May 18, emphasizing student supports, mentoring and early results from a school survey.
Robert Bell, identified in the meeting as director of the Service Academy, told the board the academy uses an “infinity loop” of purposeful planning, engaging instruction, meaningful assessment and reflection to align staff and student work. “We had 6 targets. And we hit 5 of them pretty good,” Bell said, summarizing year‑two progress and ongoing work to institutionalize practices.
The presentation focused on two student‑facing programs. Kristen Rentschler, the academy coach, described the Service Academy Ambassadors, a peer leadership program that gives incoming students tours, pairs them with mentors and guarantees a lunch partner for their first week to ease the transition to high school. “I think all studies show that if, kid feels like they belong, they’re much more likely to be successful,” Rentschler said, introducing the program’s rationale.
Rentschler also summarized the Student Success Program (SSP), which identifies students at risk of failing and provides targeted tutoring and coordination with classroom teachers. The academy added an upperclassmen mentor component this year: juniors and seniors who perform well help struggling students during advisory periods.
Presenters shared survey results intended as a program check‑in. Of about 191 student respondents, 91% said there is at least one adult in the academy they can go to for help and 8.9% said there is not — a gap the presenters flagged for further work. Bell and Rentschler cautioned that response rates are affected by seniors who are off campus for internships and said future surveys could disaggregate by grade.
Board members pressed for enrollment context. Bell said the Service Academy’s enrollment peaked at about 415 earlier in the year and was approximately 392 in the most recent run; the total high‑school enrollment was reported around 1,232. Presenters said year‑to‑year work will shift from introducing structures to deepening accountability and instruction aligned to the academy’s goals.
The meeting packet and a brief data handout were made available to trustees; Laura Ewart, the district’s talent development director, reminded the board that a student showcase is scheduled for the following Tuesday where CTE and academy students will present projects.
The presentation concluded with board appreciation for the work and an acknowledgement from trustees that the programs are still in development, with more data and refinements expected in coming years.
