By Angel Perkins Staff Writer
A study that follows the steps of graduates from Triton was announced Monday, Oct. 12 during the school board’s regular meeting.
The annual study helps administrators to pinpoint trends and make improvements. Triton’s graduating class of 2009 had a total of 79 graduates, 77 who earned diplomas (as opposed to graduate certificates of completion)—28 of those with academic honors; 30 of them as meeting Core 40 requirements and 19 were regular, Basic Diplomas. 

After graduation, local students were ambitious about their futures with 51 percent enrolled in a four-year college; 15 percent in a two-year college; 6.5 percent in a vocational or technical school and five percent seeking experience in the military.
Nine of the graduates went directly to employment (11.5 percent) and one is presently a homemaker. Only eight are unemployed.
Those numbers showed an increase in furthering their studies — whether through a college, tech, vocational or military study (77.5 percent in 2009 to the former 67.5 percent) when compared to numbers compiled from 2004 to 2008. As a result, fewer went straight to employment (11.5 percent in 2009 to the former 25 percent).
Other items discussed during the meeting included personnel changes and fundraising issues. Triton Elementary Principal Jeremy Riffle reported that during VIP day held Oct. 2, the school invited loved ones of the students to attend the school and share in the daily activities and special programs designed to bring the community together and strengthen bonds between children and the people they look up to.
Riffle reported a record number of attendees totaling 460 adults that purchased a lunch with a student a the Blue and Gold Cafe.
Staff changes were approved by the Triton School Board members including accepting to hire (retroactive Oct. 3) Rosemarie Meadows as high school custodian to replace Sheila Thompson. Blanket sports recommendations were approved for hiring boys basketball coaches Dave Carpenter (as varsity assistant), Matt Landis (ninth grade), Ryan Meister (eighth grade), Steve Duff (seventh grade), Bart Christian (sixth grade) and Jim Shively (fifth grade); and girls basketball coaches Scott Jennings (as varsity assistant), Justina Faulkner (JV coach), Bent Cooper (eighth grade), Jamey Viers (sixth grade), Karyn McFarland (volunteer assistant for sixth grade), and Terrin Meister (fifth grade).
Fundraising efforts of the local cheerleaders was also approved. The squad was said to have already been selling scratch off tickets of which the donor would scratch off an area to reveal what their donations would be. Triton Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Michael Chob-anov said he had not given approval for and had not been asked about the new idea.
Board members approved the sales only after including the stipulation that like all other school sponsored fundraising activities, the squad first must get approval from the building administrators before being able to bring it before the board for final approval —and before the sale begins.