Summarized Notes Concerning Project:

From the outset, we knew this project would be difficult; however, the constant evolution of the project due to forces outside of our control has been considerable. Museum staff has re-planned several aspects of the project from the initial grant application: project implementation, student buy-in, as well as project outcomes and measurables – all based upon the student engagement. The museum remains committed to this program, are aiming for a positive outcome for the students that take part, and hope the Arts Commission is agreeable to the constant evolution the program as related to the initial grant application.

Problems with targets in the first quarter:

First, the project received a late start due to miscommunication between the administration and teachers of Noel C. Taylor Academy. School began August 19, 2025. Administration had never formally approved the program, even though teacher support for both the middle and high schools were committed to implementation at the outset of the grant in January 2025. HSWV staff were allowed into building September 3, 2025, two weeks after school began.

Second, the program was originally supposed to be part of the Academy’s Social Studies/History class program, but instead was moved to a 25 minute mentoring block, immediately losing student buy-in because they had to attend a second history class. Additionally, after the second week of class, two class blocks were reassigned to Blue Ridge Behavioral Health, dropping the enrolled student count from 38 to 28.

Third, instead of a monthly program as originally discussed, the mentors and HSWV staff felt a weekly program would be more beneficial for the students in order to establish consistency. This increased the amount of staff time originally budgeted and intended for the project.

Fourth, the lack of engagement from the students, truancy, and constant rotation of students has created a conundrum for project implementation, as well as the inability to produce outcomes stated in the grant application – students either don’t attend class at all, or are moved between their home school and the Academy after certain number of days of good behavior. As a result, only a handful of the 28 students have been, and the majority, with the exception of 5 students, have been to only one class.

Fifth, many of the students refused to give names, street names, or any personal information about themselves or their community as a result of gang related activity or distrust. The principle required approval of the permission slip sent to parents concerning genealogical research, which was issued prior to the program start date in September. As of September 30th, the permission slip had not yet been approved or sent to parents, further delaying the family research and project implementation.