By Laura Walker
lwalker@dailystandard.com If Ohio legislators pass the Ohio Core, the class of 2010 will be taking physics, algebra II and two years of a foreign language.
Ohio CORE is an education plan presented during the state of the state address by Gov. Bob Taft to better prepare students to "succeed in an entry-level job, apprenticeship, military or college." The plan involves the same number of credits to graduate, 20, but changes the classes required to graduate.
"Ohio Core includes: four years of math, including Algebra II; three years of science, biology, chemistry and physics; and two years of a foreign language," states the Ohio Core fact sheet.
"We are worried students won't have time in their schedules to take a career tech program," Tri-Star Career Compact director Tim Buschur said.
At the Tri-Star Career Compact Advisory Board meeting Thursday night, he discussed how passing of the Ohio Core legislation may affect Tri-Star. He said guidance counselors brought this to him first, saying it has a chance of hurting the career compact, art and music programs. Bushur explained the computer aided drafting class is already a one-year program due to the scheduling conflicts of fitting in a college prep curriculum with a career tech program. On the flip side, if a student doesn't pass one class their freshman year, they may not be able to take any career technical classes, Buschur says.
Buschur has been to Columbus several times with lobbyists to convince legislators this is not a good plan. If implemented, Ohio Core would be effective starting with the class of 2010, information states. Buschur says the first problem is the class of 2010 already has their schedules made.
Another problem Bushur points out is only 144 foreign language and six physics teachers graduated from colleges in Ohio in 2005. He adds legislators have acknowledged the teacher problem, but have offered no concrete solutions.
In other action the board discussed:
¥ Equipment purchases for 2006-7 totaling $54,600. Courses receiving the highest amount of purchases are Computer Aided Drafting, $13,500, computer/monitors; Electronics, $10,600, work benches and chairs; Interactive Media, $10,000, software; and Welding, $9,000, two welders. Funds will come from Reserve Capital Fund, generated from schools.
¥ A grant received to send teachers to math and English classes in Atlanta, Ga. The conference in Atlanta was full before the grant was approved, Buschur says. Since this is the case, a four day program will be held for the English portion in conjunction with Van Wert. Teachers have reported this class helps connect the everyday class work with Tri-Star courses, Buschur says.
¥ Hiring of an instructor for the new building and grounds maintenance program. Buschur reported about 25 applicants have been narrowed down and the second round of interviews will be next week. Brian Stetler and Chris Hall are expected to move to other education positions allowing Lynne Ray and Lisa Sheppard to go from half-time to full-time positions
¥ Auction of the construction class house is June 22.
¥ Marcia Helentjaris, career development coordinator, reported about 10 students attended "Girls Get Technical." The effectiveness of this program will not be known until next year, when the first attendees are old enough to attend Tri-Star.
¥ Helentjaris also reported almost 950 entries for the annual note pad contest. Several winners were selected for their creativity and humor. |
