Officials with the AHST Community School District have announced AHST and the Walnut Community School District will officially begin Whole Grade Sharing of grades 7-through 12 beginning in the fall of 2014. The Walnut School Board approved the 4-year sharing agreement at their regularly scheduled meeting this past Monday. The AHST Board approved the same agreement during their meeting on Wednesday.

The process of Whole Grade Sharing began in Sept. 2013, when both districts passed a resolution to enter into negotiations for sharing. Following  a a period of public comment, a draft Whole Grade Sharing agreement was presented in Dec. 2013, during separate public hearings to patrons of both districts.

All students in grades 7-through 12 will be served at the AHST secondary school. The name of the secondary for extracurricular activities will be AHSTW. The mascot will be the Vikings and Lady Vikes, with the colors remaining blue, red and white. Walnut will reimburse AHST for 80-percent of the district cost per pupil by the state, to educate their resident students.

AHST also approved the expansion of programs and staff. Next year, the AHSTW secondary will have a full-time Agricultural Education and Industrial Technology program. AHST is also adding a full-time TAG (Talented And Gifted) program teacher, a secondary Language Arts teachers, a Student Services Coordinator, as well as increasing staff in the Special Education and Title 1 departments.

Persons with questions about the Whole Grade Sharing agreement may contact AHST/Walnut Community School District Superintendent Jesse Ulrich.

(8-a.m. News)