Local education leaders will convene March 10 at Lynchburg College for a daylong summit in Elliot & Rosel Schewel Hall aimed at preventing students from dropping out of high school.
In President Barack Obama's first address to Congress, he said, "Dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education, from the day they are born to the day they begin a career. That is a promise we have to make to the children of America."
The impetus for this conference emerged from a statewide summit held in October 2008 by the Virginia Department of Education to bring together Virginians committed to the urgent need for attention and workable solutions to keep students in school.
"In support of the call, we here in central Virginia are rallying forces to unite on behalf of our communities' young people," said Dr. Loretta C. Jones, associate professor of counselor education at LC and chair of the Summit Planning Committee. "It is our hope that this summit will spur even greater collaborative commitment to the futures of our children."
The keynote address, "Truancy: Precursor to Dropout," will be delivered at 9 a.m. in Sydnor Performance Hall by Judge William R. Light, resident judge of the Lynchburg Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
"Regional Realities: Statistics on Dropout" will follow with James G. Blevins, superintendent, Bedford County Public School Division. A superintendents panel, composed of area school chiefs, and a panel of students will conclude the morning session.
A number of concurrent sessions will be offered in the afternoon. For more information, contact Paula Lichiello, Office of Graduate Studies, at 434/544-8464 or lichiello@lynchburg.edu.