Jackson River Technical Center
Educator Advisory Committee
October 13, 2009
Minutes
Members Present: Glenn Spangler Robert McClintic
Ellen Nipper Lisa Gilbert
Mary Jane Muterspaugh Fred Vaughan
Elizabeth Heath Sonya Howell
Jan Hobbs
· Mr. Spangler welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 10:15am.
· Mr. Spangler went over the Attendance Report. Attendance percentages are good at this time. 1st Block 95%, 2nd Block 93.5%, 3rd Block 92.5% and Alt. Ed. 80%.
· Mr. Spangler introduced a change in the Marketing Certificate Program Requirement for the EAC to consider. The members agreed with the proposed changes. The new Marketing Certificate Program Requirement Proposal is, (A student would be required to take a level one marketing course along with the corresponding advanced course. A student would also be required to take a third marketing course or the co-op portion of the course.)
· Mr. Spangler went over the dual enrollment numbers. There are 83 Dual Enrollment classes being taken this fall. Last year there were 60. Ms. Muterspaugh asked to have the list broken down for just AHS students, and to also include the minority numbers. Mr. Spangler agreed to do that for both AHS and CHS. Mr. Spangler complemented Covington for their willingness to pick up the student cost for the dual enrollment this year.
· Mr. Spangler went over Credentialing at JRTC. NOCTI Pre-Testing will be done within the next month. Welding has already done the Post-Test with all 15 students passing. Mr. Spangler also mentioned that if a special education student needs an accommodation for a credentialing/certification test, and it is not available, that student can be opted out of the testing. This would need to be included in the IEP for the student. Mr. McClintic asked if that was the same for a 504 plan. Dr. Heath believed that it would be the same. Mr. Spangler will double check with the VDOE to make sure.
· Mr. Spangler mentioned that JRTC will be hosting the District VII Skills USA Competition this year on February 13th with a snow date set for February 20th. JRTC will be looking for volunteers to help with the leadership contests. Mr. Spangler will talk more with the EAC when he has more details about the contests.
· Mr. Spangler talked about communication between the schools. He reminded everyone about keeping JRTC informed with activities going on at the home schools. He complimented Alleghany for the daily events schedule that they send out. It has helped to keep JRTC informed with what is coming up. Mr. Spangler said that he would also continue to do his best to keep the home schools aware of the activities at JRTC. We all need to remember to keep each other informed.
· Ms. Howell and Dr. Heath were asked about a meeting that they attended where there was a discussion about entering CTE exam scores into power school. They mentioned that some schools were doing it but it was not a requirement. Placing AP scores into power school seemed to be something that was an interest for them to do.
· Mr. Spangler started a discussion about the economics and personal finance requirement that will start with the 9th grade class next year. He mentioned that JRTC can help out by offering to teach a couple sections of the course in the business department. Alleghany plans on starting the class next year with their 9th grade students that have already completed geometry in the 8th grade. Alleghany also plans to have everyone take the class before their senior year since it is a graduation requirement. They want to make sure the students have taken this class before they are seniors. There is still a lot that we need to look at, and prepare for, so that we are ready for this requirement. We will continue to share more information about this new requirement in future meetings.
· Ms. Nipper mentioned that the administrative planning guide is on the web now. It is not easy to print parts of the guide off without wasting a lot of paper. The columns continue from page to page. It was mentioned in the discussion that the VDOE has it on the web so that they can keep updating the guide. The VDOE needs to make sure that they let us know when they update the guide.
· Mr. Spangler informed the committee that we are still uncertain of the status of competencies for some of our programs. Last year the state cut competency lists from three years to two years in Welding and CST. We are still working under the old three year version. It will stay that way until further discussion is had with instructors and administrators across the state. We were told that the head of T&I at VDOE and lead instructors in these areas decided last year that there were not enough competencies in the programs to warrant three levels. Mr. Spangler asked if these individuals that made this decision are teaching half day programs. If JRTC was doing half day programs at JRTC like the rest of the technical centers in the state JRTC would be fine with only two levels. Since we teach on the block we need to keep three levels. Mr. Spangler plans on being involved with the state meetings when they are held and will keep the EAC updated as he receives more information.
· There was much discussion about power school. Main topics included the creation of transcripts. Ms. Gilbert mentioned that Covington has been in contact with several other schools trying to get a template of what they use. In the power school training we were told if someone else has something that works try to get a copy from them instead of reinventing the wheel. There was also a discussion on creating queries, entering SOL information and entering discipline information into power school.
· Mr. Spangler mentioned that JRTC is going to start a CNA class in the adult evening program tonight. He mentioned to the guidance councilors that JRTC will probably offer another class in the spring. If any high school students, that did not take the health occupation classes, realize that they would like this class they should have an opportunity to do this class in the spring.
· Ms. Howell asked if we could do a cosmetology class in the evening like the CNA class because she knows that several high school students would be interested. Mr. Spangler told her that JRTC has no equipment for the practical portion of the class. JRTC could hire an instructor to teach the related Instruction portion of a class. Mr. Spangler can look into this in the future.
· Ms. Muterspaugh asked about adult high school. Mr. Spangler mentioned that two students are currently taking classes. Two others are still enrolled that have not reported this year. One student was doing well last year and ran out of time at the end of the year when she had a baby. Mr. Spangler has not been able to contact her.
· With no further discussion the meeting was adjourned at 11:25am.
Respectfully submitted
Glenn M. Spangler