By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
February 4, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Northeast High School is thinking about the community’s future.

Last Thursday, 11 representatives from the Historic Northeast community sat down inside the library at Northeast High School as part of the newly formed Principal’s Advisory Committee. The representatives began mapping a process to build more community interaction between neighborhoods, the area’s business community and students at Northeast High School.

Organized by school liaison Evelyn Hill, the group’s goal is to build mentoring opportunities between what Principal Douglas Bolden affectionately calls the “Viking Nation” and area non-profits and businesses so fewer students stray off the path and into gangs or illegal activities.

After a short video presentation, six students spoke to the group about life at Northeast High School and the positive aspects of student life as a Viking. One student spoke of transferring from California with failing grades and a dismal future. After one year at Northeast, he has turned his grades around and is an up and coming Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps [JROTC] Cadet. After completing his presentation to the group, he smartly snapped to attention, turned on his heel and returned to his chair. Each one of the students who spoke thanked the Northeast High School Alumni Association for the strong support they provide to the Viking Nation.

“Northeast is definitely turning around” Bolden stated. “We still have an incident or two but nothing like what it was when I got here last year.”

According to Bolden, gang tags in the bathroom were a common, every-day occurrence. This school year, the paint crew has only had to do three or four touch ups. Additionally, Student Court has seen a drastic decline in discipline and attendance cases. The new Principal’s Advisory Group will meet monthly and outline ways to build student and parent involvement, ultimately making Northeast High School a standout school in the district.