Offered exclusively for ACTE members, Career Tech Update is a tightly written summary of the most important news affecting the career and technical education profession. ACTE has partnered with U.S. News & World Report to deliver this valuable member benefit. Each edition’s content is drawn from more than 10,000 sources, including major newspapers, magazines, Web sites, television and radio. Career Tech Update is published weekdays before 8:00 a.m.
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Leading the News
Iowa educators call for more technical education to meet demand for trained workers.
Iowa's Des Moines Register (1/22, Hawkins) reported, "Experts say the demand for trained workers in Iowa has grown faster than the supply,...which is forcing employers and educators to" call for more technical education in the state. However, "a decades-long emphasis on preparing all high school students for college has gutted or eradicated some key technical programs." At Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa's largest community college, the technical education classes have waiting lists. "But lawmakers will pass a state budget this spring that could include a $11.4 million gap between what two-year schools say they need and what Gov. Chet Culver (D) recommends." The Register added, "Boosting career and technical education will be costly" because "[e]quipment is expensive" and instructors are "difficult to find." Some school districts are offsetting costs by partnering with local businesses. "Educators say such efforts help blend academics and hands-on training." The Register continued, "Although many businesses help schools with equipment or money, opportunities such as job shadows and internships are just as important, educators say." And the ACTE's Jason Kiker said that the focus of technical education "should be on forgotten middle jobs that typically require at least two years of college or special certifications."
Career and Technical Education
Columnist laudsTennessee high school's technical education, postsecondary preparation programs.
In a column for Tennessee'sKnoxville News Sentinel(1/23), Joe Rector, an English teacher at Karns High School (KHS) in Knoxville, writes that KHS "has been identified" by the "ACT testing organization...as one of the 382 outstanding high schools throughout the United States in the preparation of students for postsecondary education and workforce training." Rector points out that KHS's technical education "program also is an area where Karns High shines. The building trades course has built four classrooms on the campus, as well as other outbuildings," and the diversified tech and engineering design classes "work in partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Y-12 facility." According to Rector, "Employees from the plant come to the school to teach engineering and to set up programs and activities for students." Rector adds that Clifford Davis, the principal of KHS, said that "it is important for parents and students to know that the curriculum of Karns High offers intense coursework that prepares students for the future not only in college, but also for jobs."
Pennsylvania high school showcases updated technical education program.
Pennsylvania's Tribune-Democrat (1/23, Griffith) reports that the program of Richland High School's (RHS) technology education teacher Tanner Huffman "was showcased Tuesday for teachers and administrators from several counties during [the] Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania's regional meeting and seminar." According to the Tribune-Democrat, "Traditional woodworking and welding instruction has been replaced by classes like agile robotics, architectural systems and structural engineering." RHS's program began "virtually overnight" after "the school opened in September." Huffman said, "It's about teaching students to use, assess, evaluate and apply different types of technology." He pointed out that the changes to the old model of classes "have been well-received -- even from juniors and seniors with several semesters of shop classes behind them." The classes begin in seventh grade, and by eighth grade students are working on structural engineering. "Student teams digitally design towers and then build them from balsa wood," and then use weights to test their "structural integrity, Huffman explained." In high school, students can choose electives such as "transportation engineering, computer-aided drafting and design, energy and control systems, research and development," and robotics.
North Dakota career center to offer summer STEM academy.
North Dakota's Daily News (1/22, Johnson) reported that the Southeast Region Career & Technology Center (SRCTC) "will be offering its annual junior high summer academy in the areas of math, science, engineering and technology" in June 2008. The academy will be based on an initiative by the STEM Education Institute, in Amherst, Massachusetts, and "the classes will be more focused on engineering activities for kids than in the past." SRCTC Director Dan Rood Jr. said, "There's actually a significant national movement in terms of engineering and technical careers. ... We're trying to give some students exposure to it." The academy will offer mechanical design courses that utilize computer numerical control equipment, a "Dimension 3D printer," and a computer-aided design (CAD) program. Rood said that the 3D printer "should aid in visualization for the students." The students will "do some design work and printing," and also "get a shot at using different probes, censors and recording devices the center ordered for the physiology and anatomy portion of the class."
Massachusetts math program expanded to middle schools.
Massachusetts's Berkshire Eagle (1/22, Smith) reported that Berkshire Community College's (BCC) "Got Math?" program, an extracurricular class for elementary schools that "stemmed from BCC and the Berkshire Applied Technology Council in 1999," is being expanded "to include middle school students, as well as schools in North and South counties" of Massachusetts. According to the Eagle, "The six-week program is designed to individualize math instruction and experiment with creative group activities for the purpose of making math 'come alive.'" Previously, the program was funded through a mix of corporate, public, and private donations. However, it is now "funded through a grant from the Berkshire STEM Pipeline, a county-wide initiative to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics education."
Employment Strategy
Maryland high school receives funding for new resource center.
Maryland's Capital (1/22, Furgurson) reported that the Business Advisory Board of the Southern Anne Arundel [County] Chamber of Commerce is working toward the creation of "a state-of-the-art career and college resource center" at Southern High School in Harwood. According to the Capital, the advisory board will donate "$30,000 to convert the old school store into a computer-driven" resource center. The board's plan "calls for guidance and career counselors to man the center during all lunch periods, and for students to be able to take online college assessments to help decide on career paths." Evening seminars will also be held at the center, to benefit county residents "exploring college and career paths." It will be manned "at least one night a week so families can use the facility in the evening." In addition, Southern High School's career counselor, Marilyn Harmon, said, "If we can go wireless, students will be able to bring their laptops in to do their research." David Reilly, the president of the advisory board, added, "We envision three, maybe four, computer stations and a comfortable, Starbucks-like feel."
Public Policy
Indiana city decides against offering public funds for community college expansion.
In continuing coverage from previous briefings, the Indianapolis Star (1/23, Thomas) reports that the Greenwood, Indiana's city council declined the request of Ivy Technical Community College for $300,000 in start-up funding for a new satellite campus. The campus would have been a "shared facility with" Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. However, "Ivy Tech officials cautioned last week that it is early in the process, and any move has to go before a statewide facilities committee and then a board of trustees, a process that could last several months." The Star notes that the city "did not give any public money to other colleges that built facilities there, including Indiana Wesleyan University and Marian College."
Indiana county weighs smoking ban. Indiana's Chronicle-Tribune (1/22, Holtz) reported that a "law proposed by the Grant County [Indiana] Health Department" would "be identical to the one passed in Bloomington," said Dr. John Kennedy, Grant County's health officer. That law prohibits "smoking from all public areas, including restaurants, bars, private clubs and bowling alleys." It also established smoke-free zones "within 25 feet of entrances and exits of establishments." Private residences, vehicles, and hotel rooms would all be exempt from the new law. According to Kennedy, "there will be a public meeting Feb. 13 at Indiana Wesleyan University concerning the ordinance." Grant County Commissioners will then "determine whether it goes into law."
Michigan legislators push for tax breaks for new coal plants.
The Detroit Free Press (1/22, Christoff) reported that a bi-partisan plan in Michigan's state legislature "to give tax breaks and other incentives to coal gasification plants would spur construction of much-needed, clean-burning electric plants in Michigan, its backers said today." These "bills to spur coal-gasification plants would create 'renaissance energy zones' where tax credits and speedy approval of environmental permits would speed the location of new plants." Still, "a coalition of House Democrats and environmental groups called for state laws to prohibit utility companies from charging their customers the cost of new coal plants, and require the utilities' shareholders to bear the expenses." They argue that "Michigan does not need new coal-fired power plants, and that the state instead should encourage more renewable energy sources" instead.
Louisiana panel approves plan to build new community college.
The AP (1/23, Deslatte) reports, "Despite concerns about the financing arrangement, a [Louisiana] money panel -- backed by Gov. Bobby Jindal's (R) administration -- agreed Tuesday to the $45 million construction of" the Delta Community College (DCC) campus in Monroe. The plan, continues the AP, "was approved without objection by the State Bond Commission." State Sen. John Alario (D-Westwego) voiced support for the new college, saying that "the northeast Louisiana area that houses [DCC] has a large concentration of poor residents and needs more investments in the skills training that a community college can provide." According to the AP, "The borrowing costs cover the construction of an administrative building," a resource center, classrooms, and money for equipment and furniture.
Maine state representative advocates for funding of consolidated campus.
Maine's Bangor Daily News (1/22, Chappell) reported that a bill sponsored by Maine State Rep. Chris Rector (R-Thomaston) would "help the Many Flags-One Campus proposal." According to the Daily News, "The Many Flags project is an educational concept for Knox County and the mid-coast that will attempt to create a high-performing, applied-learning high school that is fully integrated with a" technical education school. It involves "consolidating the 400-student Rockland District High School and 300-student Georges Valley High School into one building and adding a community college,...boat-building school, graduate college and four-year college" all on one campus. Rector's legislation "calls for the Department of Education to develop criteria for an innovative model program and for the Many Flags building" to be incorporated into "the next round of state funding for new school construction."
Workforce
California mayor advocates for more "green-collar" training in high school.
California ABC affiliate KGO-TV (1/23, Wang) reports that the California Bay Area of Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville and Richmond is beginning to be known as "the green corridor" by local officials, due to its preponderance of "environmentally-friendly companies in need of" employees who are referred to as "green-collar workers." A report issued Tuesday by San Francisco State University "professor Raquel Pinderhughes" found that there are "many green businesses flourishing while the economy is on the brink of a recession." These successful companies "create more jobs, but 73 percent of green employers say there's a shortage of green-collar workers." For that reason, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates "wants to use the report as a foundation to establish more green-collar" technical education "training in high schools, adult education and community colleges." Richmond's mayor, Gayle McLaughlin, added, "It is essential that we assure Richmond youth are trained and ready to receive these forthcoming green collar jobs."
New York community college nursing program receives federal grant.
New York state's Niagara Gazette (1/23, Murray) reports, "Niagara County Community College (NCCC) has been awarded $335,043 in federal funds toward upgrading its nursing workforce program, the college announced Tuesday." The money will be spent on patient simulators, which are used for training. "The simulators will emulate live patients and be hooked up to computers that instructors can program with vital signs to indicate specific medical conditions and respond to simulated treatments." George Bishop, NCCC's vice president, said that "[b]etter-simulated exercises to augment training with live hospital patients will mean better quality education and quicker understanding by students." NCCC plans to have the simulators operational and in "classroom laboratories by the fall."
Kansas hires executive director for new technical education workforce agency.
Kansas's Wichita Business Journal (1/23, Moon) reports that Blake Flanders was selected to become the first executive director of Kansas Postsecondary Technical Education Authority, a "newly created state agency that is charged with planning for technical education in Kansas." Previously, Flanders worked for the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Board of Regents as a "director of workforce and technical education programs." Flanders' new job will focus on overseeing the 12-member education agency, as well as serving as the "vice president of workforce development for the Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees the postsecondary education authority."
Opinion: Manufacturers should value experience of job-seeking veterans.
In an op-ed for Chicago's Business Ledger (1/22), Sandra Westlund-Deenihan, president of Quality Float Works, Inc., wrote that she believes companies should "embrace military personnel and veterans who already possess the qualities today's workforce is lacking." But, while many firms are looking for veterans, Westlund-Deenihan "discovered that one of the reasons employers and veterans might not be in sync is the lack of resume clarity." While many "military veterans possess amazing skills and experience that employers desperately need,...oftentimes the description [in a resume] is so specialized and geared toward military descriptions that it prevents candidates from being considered for potential positions." Westlund-Deenihan then offers tips for veterans hoping to make their resume more employer-friendly, such as avoiding military jargon by having a friend from outside the military help put duties into laymen's terms.
Also in the News
Opinion: Community colleges do not receive status they have earned.
In an opinion piece for the Chronicle of Higher Education (1/23), Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, the "president emeritus and university professor at George Washington University," writes that an article having to do with the affordability of community colleges caught his attention. It "reported that tuition at two-year colleges nationwide...were about $2,361. Taking into account [financial] aid, their average net cost is only $320 dollars per year." He also notes that a look at the website of the American Association of Community Colleges was just as "illuminating." It pointed out that "[t]here are almost 1,200 community colleges across the country" that "serve in excess of 11 million students." Trachtenberg continues, "The community college movement in the United States has been one of the most creative, productive and generally successful education initiatives anywhere on the planet." However, he argues that "legislators and governors have not fully acknowledged" the service and "opportunity they present." Trachtenberg concludes that "more robust support for our community colleges makes good sense" and that "[w]e need to celebrate them and accord them the status they have earned."
Kentucky community college system forms new articulation agreement.
Kentucky's Business First (1/23) reports that the Kentucky Technical School System (KTSS) and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) have finalized an articulation agreement. Students from KTSS who have earned a grade of "C" or higher can apply those course credits toward "corresponding KCTCS programs," as long as they enroll at KCTCS within three years of their last completed course at KTSS. Business First notes that KTSS operates 55 technology centers throughout Kentucky, and provides "technical skills training to high school students to help create a successful transition into college or a career." The new articulation agreement gives these students the option to apply credit toward an education at any of KCTCS's 16 colleges and 65 campuses throughout the state.
Ohio school develops environmentally-focused curriculum.
Ohio's Enquirer (1/22, Fischer) reported that Aiken University High School, in Cincinnati, "is now halfway into its first year with a specialized environmental sciences course of study, which links students to similar courses at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College," as well as job openings at "government agencies and environmental businesses." According to Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) officials, "the goal is to eventually have the lessons of sustainable design, environmental preservation and resource management implanted as part of the official curriculum, and in the process, build a new generation of workers" with math and science educations. Virginia Rhodes, the principal of Aiken University High School, said that "the jobs available in governmental infrastructure are perfect for her students because they require a range of preparation, from basic skilled jobs" requiring associates degrees "up to sophisticated engineering positions requiring advanced college degrees." Brad Moffitt, "an agricultural education consultant for the Ohio Department of Education," noted that "Aiken is revolutionary in that the school is exploiting an often-unrealized link between urban job preparedness and the critical field of agriculture."
