Last modified: Monday, November 21, 2005 12:13 PM PST Successful partnership JESSICA KELLER ARGUS OBSERVER ONTARIO With the help of a Union-Pacific Railroad grant program, the principals at Ontario and Nyssa high schools are networking with other principals across the United States to improve education practices. Networking is just one feature provided by the Principals' Partnership program, sponsored by Union Pacific. The program also gives the principals a chance to meet with a free, private consultant three times a year to discuss the educational needs of the schools. The consultant provides research, case studies, training or networking needed to address specific issues identified by the principals. Ontario High School Principal Bret Uptmor, a first year principal who met with the high school's consultant for the first time in October, said he thinks the program is a success. “Oh, definitely it's been beneficial, and I suspect I've only begun to tap into the resources of the Principals' Partnership,” Uptmor said. Uptmor said what has interested him the most is the ability to learn what practices other principals are implementing at their schools. Networking, which is becoming more popular in education, is something Uptmor said principals have always wanted to be able to do more of, and the Principals' Partnership program gives them that chance. “It's a nice link to an array of principals,” Uptmor said. Already, he said, he has plans to write a letter to the high school principal in Hermiston to learn what that school has done to redesign its English as a Second Language and English Language Learners programs. “I'm interested in speaking with my colleagues across the state because there are some things I'd like to do here,” Uptmor said. Another item Uptmor said he'd like to expand or improve upon, if possible, and which he will look into through the Principals' Partnership consultant, Web site or networking channels, is the ninth-grade transition program, which at Ontario, helps eighth-graders make an easier transition to high school by giving them the tools necessary to be successful. Nyssa High School Principal Ken Ball is also using the Principals' Partnership educational Web site and networking information to get more data about ninth-grade transition programs. In the past, Ball used the Principals' Partnership consultant to focus on improving literacy at the high school, and the consultant assisted him in the eventual decision to implement the successful “Read 180” program. “Right now we're looking at helping ninth-grade kids be more successful into the 10th- grade and eventually graduating,” Ball said. Ninth-grade is a tough grade, Ball said, because the new high schoolers suddenly are faced with greater responsibility, freedom and expectations from teachers. “It's a grade where kids can really connect with school, or it's a time where they can get lost in school. It's a key part of education.” To help determine what can be done differently, Ball said he will access students' first quarter and semester grades for the past four to seven years to see if any correlations can be made with the students' curriculum. “More isn't always better,” Ball said. Since Ball has participated in the program for more than three years, he has become a “senior partner” or mentor, taking more of a leadership role in the program, making room for newer principals just joining, like Uptmor. “I think the Principals' Partnership program is just another component of education,” Uptmor said, adding the program will be another tool to help the high school improve. “Education is ever changing, and so are our kids, and we're here to meet their needs,” he said.