Students and teachers at an East Tremont program for high school dropouts rejoiced on the last day of classes after learning their school, slated to close after graduation, would stay open for another year.  

The Department of Education (DOE) sent out a notice on June 25 that the Individual Pathways program, which allows dropouts from Walton High School in Kingsbridge Heights to earn their diploma or GED, will stay open through June 2009.

“It’s a mixed feeling,” said Francisco de los Santos, a history teacher at Individual Pathways. “I’m happy because we fought hard to stay open, but we lost some students who dropped out since they thought it was going to close.”

Administrators were notified on Jan.15 that the DOE was going to close the program along with Walton, which stopped accepting students four years ago and has been slowly transforming its campus into five smaller, specialized schools. Individual Pathways students said they were “devastated” after the announcement. Dozens who needed more than one semester to graduate dropped out.

In response, teachers banded together with a core of four students: Geraldine Blanco, Jasmin Capellan, Jasmin Paulino and Francis Peralta. The group contacted the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, who trained them in calling and sending letters to the DOE and elected officials. They also rallied four times at school district headquarters and City Hall, and participated in the Coalition’s Shared Fate Action Forum at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church on May 31.

Students met with Council Member Oliver Koppell, a former school board member, who met with the DOE about keeping the program open. Students also met with Council Member Joel Rivera and the United Federation of Teachers. After a series of meetings, the DOE told Walton Principal John Tornifolio the good news on the day before graduation.

Capellan, a 20-year-old from Mount Eden, graduated from the program this year. “It’s a wonderful program that has helped many students,” she said. “I’m glad it will stay open so other students can graduate.”

Individual Pathways operates in trimesters so students of different grades can earn credits quicker than in the normal two-semester system. The program, which began in the 2003-2004 school year, also has Saturday classes and partners with more than 20 community-based organizations for after-school programs.

Individual Pathways, unlike transfer schools, is not a separate high school, as it falls under Walton’s budget and administration. It’s unclear at this point how the program will be administered next year, but it will be run out of the Walton campus.

Individual Pathways had a peak of about 150 students this year, which included transfers from Theodore Roosevelt High School after it closed in 2006. This year, 52 students graduated from Individual Pathways and another 50 are expected to graduate during the next school year.