DIXON, Mo. (Nov. 24, 2008) — Members of the Dixon Library Board learned at Friday night’s board meeting that they may be able to have several students from Dixon High School work as tutors for younger students under the direction of Assistant Librarian Lois Dodds.

Dodds, who spent 22 years as a teacher including time spent as a remedial reading teacher at Waynesville Middle School, said she’s learned that because of her teaching certification she’s eligible to supervise the required community service hours that students must complete as part of their participation in Missouri’s A-plus program.

Dodds told library board members that the name of the program — A-plus — shouldn’t be misunderstood. The program offers two years of free tuition at Missouri community colleges to high school graduates who complete a series of academic and community service requirements.

“When they get out of school they’re going to go to vo-tech or community college, so we’re not talking about the top achievers doing the tutoring; we’re talking about the students who are striving to do better. They have to keep their grades about C-plus so they’ll be working on their grades and this will help,” Dodds said.

Board member Ed Wise asked what students will be receiving the tutoring.

“We have a lot of people around here who didn’t make it through high school,” Wise said.

Dodds agreed, but said that’s not the intent of the A-plus program.

“I’ve taught GED before and I could do it again, but these students probably won’t be tutoring GED students,” Dodds said.

Responding to questions from Library Board President Susan Hohman, Dodds explained that students don’t receive credit for the tutoring but they will receive free tuition.

“That’s major, especially for many of the kids from this area,” Wise said.

Dodds said the A-plus program can also help people who intend to go on to a four-year college.

“I had one son who got admitted to Georgetown, but we couldn’t pay for it. Even after all the scholarships, it was still going to cost us $60,000,” Dodds said. “These two-year college credits will transfer to the bigger schools and they can really help.”

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