TURNER – Enrollment in the Leavitt Area High School’s advanced placement program for the coming school year has increased to 43 percent of eligible juniors and seniors, according to Principal Patrick Hartnett.

In its first year in 2005-06, only 14 percent of eligible students took part in the program where students take certain courses to obtain college credits prior to enrolling. Some of the subject areas are English, history, science and mathematics.

Hartnett credited greater interest in the program’s second year to more awareness through the school administration and the sponsoring National Governors Association. He discussed the grant program and its growing popularity with SAD 52 directors at a meeting at the Tripp Middle School here while presenting his initiatives as he begins his third year as principal.

He said psychology has been added to the list of advanced placement classes being conducted at Leavitt this coming year, and he is expecting to add more in the years to come. He said SAD 52 is one of six districts in the state where the advanced placement is offered.

Other plans Hartnett reviewed with the board for the coming year include more opportunities for collaboration among the math, science, social studies and English teachers; using a new math connections text that blends algebra, geometry, probability, statistics and trigonometry into a package while integrating technology into the program; participation in the Maine Readiness Program to ensure all Leavitt graduates are ready for college, or a career, and citizenship; and development of a senior project presentation, where seniors would create a graduation project or deliver an exit presentation to a prescribed audience.

Hartnett also proposed to the board that it consider “a real break from tradition” by holding the school’s graduation exercises at the Colisee in Lewiston. He cited the limited number of tickets (four) allotted to each graduate with the exercises at the high school; the expenses of preparing for both an indoor and outdoor ceremony; and the problem of excessive heat when held indoors.

There was mixed reaction from the board.

Hartnett will survey the seniors, and a decision is likely at the next board meeting.

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