A program that provides area high school students classes in trades and technology is gaining steam, said Jack Koehn, USD 257 superintendent of schools, at Monday night’ Board of Education meeting.
Koehn said a possible site for such a program could be the Diebolt Lumber complex, south of LaHarpe, which went out of business earlier this year.
“It has a lot of things already in place,” Koehn said. “It would be ideal for a career tech program, for building trades, welding, CNC applications.
“It was pretty eye-opening in terms of what we wouldn’t have to do,” he said of the existing structures.
Koehn said a meeting between area school district superintendents and administrators from Allen Community College and Fort Scott Community College will be Jan. 13.
The program is a concerted effort between high schools and community colleges. Funding comes through the community colleges through a provision in Senate Bill 155.
“We provide the students; they fund the operation,” Koehn said. “Community colleges are the hub of the whole thing.”
Area school officials have no further to look than Pittsburg for a successful model, Koehn said. Five area school districts take advantage of the career and technology program there.
Locally, Ray Maloney of Ray’s Welding, LaHarpe, has expressed a strong interest in such a program.
“Now all we need is a few benefactors to help purchase facilities,” Koehn said, adding that he hoped other industry and business leaders would get on board with the program.
Koehn said some programs could be relatively easy to get off the ground in short order.
“Depending on the equipment, some are relatively easy to start up. Cosmetology and welding could begin as early as next year.
“You could start on a small scale, and build as you go.
“If you were building custom homes on iron, to be transported later, that would take longer to develop. But it’s all possible in the long run.”
The program would not only provide students with a more varied education, but also help provide a more highly trained workforce for area industries.
When surveyed, area students professed a strong interest in the program, Koehn said.
THE FOOTBALL field in Riverside Park is coming along to schedule, Scott Stanley, director of operations, said.
A machine called a shatter tine was used to wedge six-inch deep holes across the field. From there, 150 tons – six semi-truckloads – of sand was spread, followed by 600 lbs. of a fescue blend of grass seed.
“The process is complete,” Stanley said, “and we’ll aerate in the spring to push more of that sand into the soil, followed by fertilizer. Then we’ll repeat in the fall after football.
“This is a three-year process. It won’t turn into Arrowhead overnight,” he said.
THE DISTRICT’S strategic planning on how to make education more engaging included students at a recent session, Koehn said. An across-the-board segment of the student body, including freshmen to seniors, jocks to scholars, academic to vocationally minded, met with Koehn and Iola High School principal Stacy Fager.
The focus group discussed what they thought was important to “move the district forward,” Koehn said.
“The discussions were very positive,” Koehn said.
Again, the students voiced strong interest in a career/tech program, he said.
BOARD MEMBERS declined to participate in a promotional video the City of Iola has contracted with a company called CGI Communications out of Rochester, N.Y.
Cost was the deciding factor.
Koehn said a 60-second segment would cost the district $4,000; a 30-second segment, $3,000; and for a lesser amount no video, but mention of the district.
The video would be posted on the City of Iola’s website.
Instead, board members liked the idea students could produce a video with assistance from the Greenbush Learning Center.
Koehn estimated the cost down that avenue would be $500-$750.
“I like the idea of challenging our own kids to make something of the sort,” said Tony Leavitt, board president.
“And you’re not burning up a bunch of money,” added Buck Quincy, board member.
AFTER executive session, the board accepted the resignations of John Perez, custodian, Mary Heffern, high school substitute teacher, and Larry Wilson, assistant track coach.
Board member Darrell Catron was absent.
