Wednesday, November 29, 2000
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Wednesday, November 29, 2000 |
| School board eyes
change in exchange policy
By PAT NEWMAN A heartfelt appeal by a Tyrone family to allow a disenfranchised German exchange student to attend Fayette County Schools prompted the administration to rework its existing foreign exchange policy. The revised policy was presented to the Fayette County Board of Education for review recently, and would allow foreign exchange students to apply for second-semester admission to Fayette County schools, not just for a full semester. "This change would allow administration more flexibility in dealing with parent requests to attend the Fayette County School System," said assistant Superintendent Stuart Bennett. The policy was placed "on the table" for review for 30 days. Bennett said in essence that school administrators wanted "a policy to protect the schools... with some flexibility." Having set a one-month deadline for student applications and records to be on file before admission should prevent an onslaught of students, Bennett said. Herbert Honrath, a German-born citizen of Tyrone, addressed the board in October, explaining how he and his family happened to take in a 16-year-old German exchange student who was left in dire straits when her host family rescinded their invitation due to a personal situation. Honrath said she was enrolled in Westlake High School in Fulton County, where she did not feel safe, and was traveling 20 miles each way daily to attend classes. The board asked Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis to look into the matter. Currently the student is being tutored and attending the night high school at Sandy Creek, Bennett explained. If the board votes to change the policy, she would be eligible to apply to Sandy Creek High School for the second semester starting in January.
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