CSLP changes plans for future

Along with the rest of the district next year, North will be changing up the CSLP program. Central did it this year, and there were rumors it was going to happen at North soon. Sure enough, it’s happening.

Effective in the 2009-10 school year, the Community Service Learning Program will switch from an after-school club/class to an in-school course. Students who sign up for CSLP will become mentors in the success classes, which are for freshmen and sophomores behind in the curriculum.

“[The district did this] because we wanted to focus more on getting tutoring for kids in the school,” Principal Darlene Jones said. “And they were a resource we had to tap into. This year Central did it the new way, but us and Howell did it the old way.”

Currently, CSLP is an after-school activity for students to go out and help out in the community. Right now students can take CSLP 1, 2 and 2.5 after school, all of which are worth one half credit.

“Each year we normally have three field-trips were we go out to do stuff for community service,” CSLP teacher Kellie Hausner said. “After those, the kids have to go out and get 25 hours of community service on their own; it’s a requirement to pass the class. Last year, we went out and did Habitat for Humanity, and later we went to St. Peters to remove honeysuckle trees.”

With the change next year, the field trip portion of CSLP will no longer exist. Students who had previously participated in it will be put into Volunteer Knights to do similar activities.

“CSLP is a way for kids to get out and help out with community service,” senior Dani Langness said. “It’s also another way to bring kids together. For that, I don’t see why they’re taking it away.”

However, CSLP students will still be able to help out in a big way: with the students at North.

“I think [the change] sounds good,” Hausner said. “You’re giving back to the kids at North and making it a positive place to be. What better place to give back than here at North?”