Ivanna Eudora Kean High School played host this week to five visiting representatives of the Middle States Association, who told officials Thursday afternoon they would be recommending that the school be re-accredited for the next seven years.
Kean lost its accreditation in 2002, but regained it again in 2005 bringing in Principal Sharon McCollum to turn around the school. The accrediting association’s last site visit was in 2003, and at the time, representatives’ concerns centered on the state of Kean’s facilities – in particular, the gymnasium, the track and field, and the lack of covered sidewalks in the school.
A lack of sidewalks in front of the school was also a concern.
To prepare for this week’s site visit, Kean spent most of the school year on its self-study, a document that forces Kean administrators to look at how the school is performing in 12 areas ranging from student achievement to financing.
School officials said that the self-study revealed that Kean has made large strides since the 2003 visit, with improvements made to the facilities, curriculum and overall system of operation.
During this four-day visit from Middle States representatives, the school showed off its new state of the art gymnasium, which was recently renamed in honor of Digna Marie Wheatley, a former student whose campaign for school improvements resulted in an appropriation from the Senate that helped to fund the initial construction of the gym. 
A regulation size track and field is also under construction after years on the drawing board.
McCollum also showed off Kean’s new tilapia farm Thursday, which she said should be up and running by the end of March.
The farm’s hydroponic system will allow the harvest of fish and local produce. McCollum said the tilapia hatchlings will soon be coming from St. Croix, and that the tanks now being installed in the new facility will accommodate 100-125 fish each, as well as 600 heads of lettuce.
Middle States team members arrived at the school Monday and also looked over the school’s JROTC squad and marching band, which was established three years ago by music teacher Dionne Donadelle.
McCollum said Thursday that the school was also stressing some new developments in the curriculum, such as a marine industry program and culinary arts class that has been training students to move on to either cooking schools or right into the work force.
"I’m anticipating an A+," McCollum said when asked about the team’s visit. "Kean is in better shape than it has ever been in, and what makes us really special is the real sense of belonging, the ownership the students, staff, even the parents have of the school. We’re always going to be a work in progress, but I know everyone is going to continue to build and work at our success every day.”
Team members conducted interviews throughout the week with the school’s staff, students and parents. Speaking Thursday, validation team head Dr. John Plesha said he was "impressed" with the campus and the overall atmosphere at Kean.
Middle States made a presentation to Kean’s staff Thursday afternoon to give an overview of their impressions and announced that they would be recommending the school for re-accreditation without any stipulations.
Plesha said that the team’s recommendation would be forwarded to the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools, which will make a determination on Kean’s status in October or November.
