LCHS CTAE Advisory Council holds March meeting

Pictured are front row: (kneeling and seated) L-r): Joe Hogan, Ellen Butler, Becky Reed, Melissa Burgess, Gail Remsen; second row: Brittney Thompson, Janet Dukes, Martha Partridge, Melvin Stewart, Regina Reid, Alana Burke, Tammy Burgess, Joann Collins; back row: Tangie McKinney, Chris Heitmann, Johnny Spratlin, Coleman Kennedy, Marcus Spratlin, Crawford Spratlin, Henry Madden, Elizabeth Chamblin, Dennis Gay, and Ernie Doss

The Lincoln County High School Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education Advisory Council met on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Healthcare Science Technology lab. Members, teachers, and administrators had the opportunity to get acquainted at the beginning as light refreshments were served.

The meeting began with a welcome by Joann Collins, CTAE Supervisor. She recognized members of the council and guests and thanked everyone in attendance for their participation and support.

Mrs. Ellen Butler, LCHS counselor, presented information about the new graduation rule that will go into effect the school year 2008-2009. She explained the new requirements and how these changes would affect CTAE.

The CTAE department is involved in the program initiatives: Education and Career Partnership and Youth Apprenticeship. Mrs. Collins introduced Dr. Elizabeth Chamblin, ECP Coordinator at Augusta Technical College. She presented the articulation agreement that Lincoln County has with Augusta Technical College which supports the student as he or she transitions from high school to technical college and then to a career. She stated that this school year LCHS has articulated courses in the English and math areas with Augusta Technical College. Also, Dr. Chamblin gave an update on the future of the Education and Career Partnership grant and the options available to school systems for the school year 2008-2009.

Mr. Melvin Stewart, CSRA-RESA YAP coordinator, gave updated information about the youth apprenticeship program at LCHS. He stated that this program allows students to leave school early and go to work as an apprentice in a career they are planning on pursuing. Mr. Stewart also talked about completers of the program in which the student must have earned 2000 hours of work to receive technical credit. He indicated that LCHS presently has 12 students involved in the apprentice program.

Mrs. Regina Reid, Graduation Coach, for LCHS, presented to the group information about the Credit Recovery program. She stated that this program allows students who have failed a particular subject to retake it online. This program has been made available to LCHS students after school in the computer lab.

Mr. Brian Campbell, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, presented updated information about the new school which is planned to open in the fall 2010. Mr. Campbell brought drawings of the new school for the advisory council to view. The CTAE programs to be included in the new school are: Busi- ness and Computer Science, Automotive, Engineering and Technology, Agriculture, Professional Foods, Healthcare Science, and Construction.

After the general session, the council was separated into different labs. In the labs the instructors presented updated information about their program and student organization. Members of the CTAE department presenting were: Janet Dukes- Business and Computer Science; Dennis Gay- Agriculture; Tangie McKinney- Healthcare Science; Joe Hogan- Engineering and Technology; and Brittney Thompson- Family and Consumer Science.

The purpose of the advisory council is to provide community input into the career, technical, and agriculture programs so as to maximize career and technical training opportunities for the students through a school and community partnership. With input from the community the career and technical department has insight as to what business leaders see as the career and technical needs for the areas of study.

Those representing the community and school were: Alana Burke- Lincoln County Development Authority; Coleman Kennedy, Retired Educator; Martha Partridge- Home Economist- Lincoln County; Melvin Stewart- YAP Coordinator CSRA-RESA; Tammy Goldman- Farmers State Bank; Melissa Burgess- Farmers State Bank; Ellen Butler, Counselor- LCHS; Regina Reid- Graduation Coach LCHS; Ernie Doss- Lincoln County Dept. of Public Safety; Johnny Spratlin, Spratlin & Sons Construction; Marcus Spratlin- Spratlin Hardware and Building Supply; Chris Heitmann- H & H Industrial Maintenance; Crawford Asbell- Lincoln County Technology Department; Becky Reed- Lincoln County Board of Education board member; Gail Remsen- Lincoln County Board of Education board member; Henry Madden, Assistant Principal-LCHS; Dr. Elizabeth Chamblin- Augusta Technical College ECP Coordinator; and Brian Campbell-Assistant Superintendent.