Team seeks smooth transition to new high schools

Students have an active role in the plan to operate only two high schools.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A group of 31 students, five teachers and three parents is working to ensure a smooth transition when the city school district opens this fall with just two high schools.
The Rayen School and Woodrow Wilson High School are closing permanently with the end of this school year, and the school buildings will be razed to make way for new middle schools on their sites.
Chaney High School, which is being renovated and expanded, will remain, and an all-new East High School -- will open. Much effort has been put into making the change from three to two high schools as painless as possible, said Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent.
Essentially, all Rayen students will go to the new East, while about 50 percent of Wilson students will go to East and 50 percent to Chaney, said Tony DeNiro, assistant superintendent for school business affairs.
Three-day workshop
Webb said the members of the student-teacher-parent transition team recently attended a three-day Ohio Violence Prevention Process workshop to assist them in mapping out a transition plan.
The team's mission statement is "Making the Peace," said Rayen teacher Manfred Michalski, who is helping to coordinate the effort.
Administrators from the three high schools selected the students who serve on the team, with equal representation from three of the buildings.
"These key people are future leaders," Michalski said.
Three student members of the team addressed the school board last week, explaining what the team is trying to accomplish.
"We formed a bond of friendship," said Justin Kalinay, Chaney sophomore, explaining the group wants to expand that bond into the two high schools.
The team would like to see more youth leadership workshops and teen fellowships next year, said Charles Greer, a Rayen freshman.
The team doesn't want to see an East Side vs. West Side mentality develop in the school system, said Antonio Ford, a Rayen sophomore.
"We all agree we can make new friends to improve the environment," he said.