JONESVILLE, Va. — Lee County School System has launched a new program to help students called Teen Outreach Program (TOP).

Kelly Chadwell gave a presentation on his involvement in the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) at Thursday’s regular board meeting. He presented board members with a detailed report on his findings working in the school system.

“Last year, Lee County had one of the highest drop out rates in the state,” said Chadwell. “...A lot of (students) don’t think school’s important or relevant in their future.”

Chadwell said a lot of students he’s working with don’t have traditional parents. He said that least 80 percent of the kids he worked with brought their grades up.

According to an overview of the program, TOP “is designed to prevent adolescent problem behaviors by enhancing normative processes of social development. The program seeks to engage young people in a high level of structured, volunteer community service that is closely linked to classroom-based discussions of future life options, such as those surrounding future career and relationship decisions. By the end of the one year intervention period, Teen Outreach students were significantly less likely than control students to have failed a course, been suspended from school, or gotten pregnant.”

“This is a massive undertaking,” said Board Chairman Ty Harber. “These figures are staggering.”

The board thanked Chadwell for his work, and Harber added, “I appreciate what you’re doing. If you pick these kids up, we’ll keep picking you up, too.”

Secondary School Director Rod Griffith presented the board with the possibility of changing their substitute teacher age policy, from 18-years-old to 21.

Board member Bill Willis voiced his opposition to increasing the age.

“I make a motion we leave that alone,” said Willis.

The board decided to discuss the matter further.

“I’d just assume leave it alone. How much problem have we had?” asked Harber.

Lee High School Principals Ron Early and Connie Daughtery both said there have been instances where an 18-year-old substitute teacher has taught a class with her boyfriend in it.

Willis said that he felt the board should be trying to give their high school graduates every opportunity to get work and felt strongly about leaving the substitute age at 18. The board didn’t take any action on the matter.

The board went into closed executive session to discuss personnel.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.