School board members hear how New Beginnings Center helps students catch up on studies

Members of the Aberdeen School Board learned a little about what's been happening at the New Beginnings Center during this week's meeting

Courtney Dosch, director of the center, was at the Monday meeting to give an update. The facility helps kids ages 10 to 17, said Dosch, although a majority of the students are 13 or older.

Some students are sent to the New Beginnings Center from the South Dakota Department of Social Services. Their folks have likely had their parental rights terminated, Dosch said. The kids stay at the center as social workers help with family reunification or before going into foster care.

The facility also receives placements from the South Dakota Department of Corrections, said Dosch. Those youth have had run-ins with the law.

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New Beginnings develops a treatment plan for all kids when they arrive. They often stay for four to six months, she said.

One of the three main goals of the New Beginnings Center is education, and the school district provides two teachers to help with that. Sometimes students at the center are behind on classes and credits when they arrive, Dosch said.

Students can go at their own pace, which sometimes helps them catch up in a matter of weeks, she said. Some kids in the program work toward going back to public school once they get caught up.

During the summer, the New Beginnings Center offers on- and off-campus activities such as therapy or an outpatient program for drug use.

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A recent grant from the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota is allowing the center to host training for staff members to learn how to incorporate different aspects of Native American culture into lessons and groups, Dosch said. Many of the students are Native Americans, while the staff is predominantly white, she said.

The program also checks in on students six times in six months after they are discharged, said Dosch. 

Board member Andrew Miller honored for service

Board member Andrew Miller is approaching his last day of service. Board Chairman Brad Olson presented Miller with a plaque on behalf of the board and administration thanking him for his six years on the school board. 

Miller said that he learned a lot about what goes into the public school system during his time on the board.