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Local News

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Weekend: Alternative education
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

For students at the Hancock County Alternative Opportunity Center, "the spirit of giving" is proving to be a good teacher, and not only at Christmastime.

The center serves students from Hancock County's seven school districts who are at-risk of not graduating due to academic and discipline problems.

There are currently 10 students enrolled at the Alternative Opportunity Center, ages 15 to 18.

Along with their studies, students are spending more time on service projects throughout the year.

"I think when the kids come in here, they have such low self-esteem. They want everything they can get from everyone because that is how they have been raised," said Michelle Frampton, a long-term teacher's aide at the center for four years.

"What they find out is that when you give, you get so much more back," Frampton said.

So far this school year, students from the center have volunteered at the Challenged Champions equestrian therapy program, the Hancock County Humane Society, Hope House, Chopin Hall, the Heritage House and the Salvation Army.

"Service learning is powerful, but is very powerful for those at-risk learners," said Kimberly Bash, a program officer with the Findlay/Hancock County Community Foundation. "When they serve the community, they learn to be a leader and to say 'I have skills, I have talents and I can make a difference just like anyone else.'"

ECLIPSe, Hancock County's philanthropy program for youth, supports many of the Alternative Opportunity Center's service projects. The ECLIPSe partnership includes Findlay City Schools, the Hancock County Educational Service Center, Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, United Way of Hancock County, Campus Compact at the University of Findlay, OSU Extension and Hancock Youth Leadership.

Last spring, Bash said, students from the alternative center were invited to give a presentation at an ECLIPSe banquet and did a remarkable job.

"It is wonderful to see these kids taking leadership positions. They were so proud of their projects. People usually get nervous when they have to present, but these kids really believed in what they were doing, and that nervousness went right out the door," Bash said.

That same spirit carries through in their schoolwork and attendance, Bash said.

They are also required to complete a "Life Skills and Assets" course, a curriculum designed specifically for the center. Students get one credit for completing the course.

Part of the course is based on the "40 developmental assets" as identified by Search Institute of Minneapolis. The assets "help young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible," according to the institute.

A 50-year-old organization, the Search Institute is independent, nonprofit and nonsectarian. Its mission is to provide leadership, knowledge and resources to promote healthy children, youth and communities.

Developmental assets include things such as caring neighbors; a feeling of safety at home, at school and in the neighborhood; reading for pleasure three or more hours a week; believing it's important not to be sexually active or use alcohol or other drugs; high self-esteem; and placing a high value on helping other people.

Frampton hears more talk at the center these days about college and future plans.

"We have students who want a career working with people with learning disabilities. They want to go to college," Frampton said. Frampton will admit she questioned her own abilities when she took the job at the Alternative Opportunity Center.

"I thought, 'I'm a stay-at-home mom. What can I possibly have to offer these kids?' I was scared, too," she said. "But you know what? I love them. These are the kids that the community always expects the worst from, but give them a chance and they will prove you so wrong. They just need a chance to show people what they can do. Really, they can do anything, they just don't know it yet."

Grant: 419-427-8412,

Send an e-mail to Denise Grant


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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.