McKinley-ALC students gather in the early morning at the St. Cloud Veterans Hospital sporting their volunteer shirts and name tags. They venture to the Veterans Affairs Hospital (VA) twice a month to reconnect with veterans, some whom they now call friends. Kathy Lyerly and Mike Myers-Schleif, McKinley service learning project supervisors, await the students. They laugh … Read more
Neighbors look forward to it every year: the smell of sweet, smoky barbeque and music pulling at their senses. It’s the last chance before the cold of Minnesota winter sets in to ward off any impending cabin fever. McKinley-Alternative Learning Center’s annual barbeque is a welcome opportunity to reacquaint neighbors with the students who attend the … Read more
Walking into the classroom of Mike Myers-Schleif, social studies teacher at McKinley-ALC, you’re greeted with a bright welcoming smile. His classroom is decorated with historical figures such as Nelson Mandela. However, two walls are decorated with photos of students. One wall consists of students that have graduated and have kept in touch with him throughout … Read more
McKinley-ALC Principal Al Johnson loves to tell the story of how he discovered Paige Philippi as an artist in his midst. “I’m big on holding students accountable for their actions,” Johnson begins. I’ve got about 26 or so cameras that monitor our schools, but I also have a camera that monitors our bus stop. Students, … Read more
New to District 742 this year is the American Indian Program, a program designed to assist and give support to American Indian students enrolled throughout the District. Heading the program is director of equity services, Sebastian Witherspoon, along with Lacey Lokken, the new American Indian coordinator. “My non-technical description of the program is about closing … Read more