Newsroom

Sen. Watson hosts meeting about Johnston’s future

Tuesday, October 02, 2007
by Jason Wheeler
KEYE TV

Beset by years of low test scores, a threatened shutdown, and a mass exodus of students who already opted to go elsewhere, it would seem there is little to cheer about at Johnston High School these days. But as parents packed into the campus cafeteria Tuesday night, a meeting about the school's uncertain future played like a pep rally.

"Our enrollment today was 703 students," said Celina Estrada-Thomas, Johnston High School Principal as she addressed the crowd. "We're supposed to have 1800."

"There's hope. It's standing room only," said Janie Rangel, grandmother of a Johnston High School student.

Most here are convinced the school will stay open, and that it needs to stay open.

"Everybody is failing," Rangel told CBS 42's Jason Wheeler. "That's more reason to keep it open. You don't close it because everybody's failing. You continue to work with them. Don't give up. We're not going to let our kids fall through the cracks. We're just not going to do that."

Aggressive education programs are underway.

"This school, now, at this point, it has turned around," says parent Jennifer Gleason.

But at Johnston time is running out.

"We've got to get out of the red this year," Principal Estrada-Thomas said.

If test scores don't turn around this year, the fraction of the student body that still remains will likely be sent away to other schools. Classes and pep rallies here will come to an end.

To watch this report, click here.