By By Adrienne McKenzie
Escambia County High School principal Harvey Means shared why it is important for students to obtain an education with Atmore Rotarians at their meeting Tuesday.
Means, guest speaker for the event, brought along with him a young man who had dropped out of Escambia County High School, but has agreed to head back to complete his education in the fall.
McGregory Riley, 18, is just one student of many who have dropped out of school that Means has contacted.
Means said Riley walked into the school Tuesday morning and the two had spent the first part of the day together discussing why the young man decided to drop out of school.
Means said Riley would have been a senior had he stayed at ECHS and that Riley’s reason for leaving was because “he didn’t see any need and just quit.”
Riley told Means he has been in Florida with friends and has never had a job before. Means drove Riley around town and as of Monday morning, Riley will begin work at a local establishment.
Means said he was overwhelmed when Riley walked into the school Tuesday morning.
Riley said he was supposed to graduate from ECHS in 2007 when he dropped out.
Riley will return to ECHS as a senior in August.
Means said it is important to find out where ECHS drop outs have landed in order to obtain Annual Yearly Progress (AYP). In order for ECHS to not be in “school improvement,” drop out rates must decline.
Means said it is important for former students to understand that someone cares where they are at now.
Means said he is grateful for the Rotarians’ time at the meeting Tuesday evening.