Students keep planners with daily, weekly, and long-term goals, and faculty advisors meet with them weekly to check their progress and give them a nudge when needed. The school is good at giving second chances and sometimes third and fourth chances as well. When a student doesn't show up for school, the faculty advisor calls. If the student still doesn't return, Burchell makes the call. Mat-Su always has a waiting list, so students who aren't willing to work lose their place to someone who is.
Students are welcome to come back to the school when they are ready to follow the rules.
Burchell connects with most of his students, but has learned that it is impossible to reach everyone. For Burchell, the only thing harder than a student who drops out and doesn't return is when a student dies. Eleven young trees line the front of the school, barely noticeable without their leaves. One has been planted for each student the school has lost in its 10-year history. Four more trees wait to be planted when the ground thaws in the spring.