Community School/Independent Study
Marguerite Bulkin, Principal
mbulkin@tuolcoe.k12.ca.us
209-536-2044
Lulu Ramirez-Straub, Executive Assistant,
Student Programs
lramirez@tuolcoe.k12.ca.us
209-536-2012
Karen Hatton, Teacher, Independent Study
khatton@tuolcoe.k12.ca.us
209-536-2012
Cathy Atkins, Teacher
catkins@tuolcoe.k12.ca.us
209-536-2012
Greg Dahlem, Teacher, Community School-High School
gdahlem@tuolcoe.k12.ca.us
209-536-2012
The mission of the Tuolumne County Community School is to provide an alternative independent study option for students who have been expelled from their district of residence or have been determined by the Probation Department or the School Attendance Review Board to be better served at a site other than their district of residence. Students may be placed as a result of an inter-district transfer when no other similar program is available.
The primary reasons for using independent study are:
- Its potential to serve the large geographical area that makes up Tuolumne County
- Its flexibility in meeting the variety of needs of students who have special circumstances related to their expulsion or placement.
The independent study instructional strategy for each student will include diagnostic-prescriptive course placement based on:
- Student ability level diagnosed through standard achievement tests
- Subject area needs per district of residence credit deficiencies and promotion standards
- Student interest
The teacher meets with students on a weekly basis. Students are required to sign an independent study contract guaranteeing that they finish a prescribed amount of work on a weekly basis. The teacher meets with the student and reviews previous work, provides new instruction and sets up the assignments for the following week. Parents and student monitor progress through sign-off sheets on hours of work and assignments completed. School is conducted at the Shaw’s Flat campus, public library or other public meeting places when distance accommodations are required.