Ephrata allows group home students to enroll at Sage Hills

EPHRATA - Some residents of a juvenile group home will be allowed, in certain circumstances, to enroll at Sage Hills Secondary School, the district's alternative school.

Jody McCallum, director of the Sunrise Group Home, told the Ephrata School Board Monday that Sunrise residents had been enrolled in the Columbia Basin Job Corps program until mid-January. At that time the Job Corps stopped accepting new students, a prohibition that Job Corps officials say will last through June 30.

The group home houses young people transitioning out of the juvenile detention system. It reopened last year.

McCallum said she wanted to enroll some students in Sage Hills until the Job Corps moratorium is lifted. Sage Hills Principal Charlotte Throgmorton said two students from Sunrise currently are attending school at Sage Hills.

In answer to a question from board member Bill Correll, McCallum said she anticipated a maximum of six to eight Sunrise students attending Sage Hills.

Superintendent Jerry Simon said district officials are reviewing an agreement with Sunrise. He asked if the district would have the right to reject students. Throgmorton said the district can reject kids, and she meets with the staff for a review before accepting a Sunrise student.

Board member Alan Key asked about security, since the students are coming out of the juvenile justice system. Sunrise staff do random checks on the kids throughout the school day, McCallum said, and protocols are set up to ensure security staff is keeping an eye on the students while they are at school.

The board voted to accept the agreement between the district and Sunrise, pending a final board review.

In other business, Simon recognized four teachers and Principal Scott Monson from Columbia Ridge Elementary for receiving the Title I Distinguished School award for Washington in late 2012. Simon presented them with letters of commendation in frames he made himself.