Keeping Dropouts Is District’s Aim

San Diego city school trustees Tuesday adopted a detailed action plan designed to reduce the number of dropouts in the school district by 50% within three years.

The plan is the district’s response to recommendations made last February by a “Dropout Prevention Roundtable” of community and district leaders convened by Supt. Tom Payzant.

Alarmed at the district’s 16% to 20% dropout rate--a figure significantly lower than the 29% rate for all California students--school trustees have announced an ambitious agenda: by June, 1989, they want to cut the dropout rate in half, reduce the number of youngsters considered “potential dropouts” by 75%, and bring 25% of their dropouts back into the schools.

“In setting a goal, you have to show that you’re serious about it. That’s why it’s as ambitious as it is,” said Gary Knowles, a district researcher who worked with the dropout task force.

The 23-page plan includes:

- Development of “motivation maintenance centers” in 16 schools, where counselors work with youngsters considered likely to drop out because of troubles at home or in school.

- Encouraging education schools like San Diego State University to train new teachers in skills needed to help keep potential dropouts in school.

- Involving parents and the community more thoroughly in school activities. While the plan is aimed primarily at helping the youngsters, it could also aid the school district. With each student that drops out, the city schools lose part or all of the $2,555 in annual state reimbursements, a figure that totals $1 million to $2 million every year.