Area 30 students excel in Skills USA

Assistant Director Chad Nunley announced during the Area 30 Governing Board’s recent meeting that 19 of the 32 students who competed in the Feb. 11 Skills USA regional competition qualified for the April state competition.

In auto refinishing: Ben Schultz (1st, NPHS, competed last year in auto collision repair and took 1st).

In auto collision repair: Eric Hale (1st, NPHS), Randy Terhune (2nd, SPHS) and Austin Cox (3rd, GHS).

In marine technology: Logan Jones (1st, SPHS, competed last year and took 4th).

In motorcycle service technology: Jacob Roberts (2nd, CHS), Devon Workman (3rd, SPHS), Lucas Nevins (4th, GHS) and Andrew Ballard (5th, SPHS).

In outdoor power equipment: Nick Stranger (3rd, NPHS) and Adam Deszi (4th, SPHS).

In architectural drafting: Gabriella Selvia (1st, GHS) and Noah Pettit (2nd, GHS, competed last year and took 2nd).

In information technology services: Ethan Myers (1st, GHS), Jeffery Jurgens (2nd, CHS), James Crocker (3rd, CHS), Wyatt Lewis (4th, GHS) and Kaylyn Hunt (5th, GHS).

And in internetworking: Andrew Monnett (5th, CHS).

Students placing in the top three of each category receive scholarships.

Last year Area 30 sent 11 students to Skills USA state, where they placed 1st in quiz bowl; 1st in mobile robotics; 2nd in technical computer applications; and 3rd in information technology repair, motorcycle repair, criminal justice and 3D animation.

Also, 34 students will be competing in the Health Occupations of America (HOSA) competition set for April 10-12 in Indianapolis. Last year Area 30 sent 20 students, where they placed 1st in medical reading, 3rd in extemporaneous health poster and in the top 10 of various events.

“We’ve always had good results because our students take time to prepare,” Director Lora Busch said of the HOSA competition. “All students have to take a pre-test to qualify.”

In other developments:

-- School resource officers: Sheriff Scott Stockton expressed his support for each of the schools as they look into hiring school resource officers.

“If there is ever a funding source for a school safety officer or resource officer,“ Sheriff Stockton said, “I would strongly support deputizing that person so long as they pass the appropriate backgrounds and vetting processes that satisfies my department.”

He also advised the schools that they would need to find an officer that is good with children and to employ that same person consistently.

-- School calendar: The board approved the 2017-18 school calendar, which schedules the start of classes for Aug. 7.

-- Car show: The board approved hosting a car show and community day at Area 30 on May 20. No time or other details are available yet.

-- Personnel: The board approved the following personnel changes:

-- Termination: Lisa Robertson (custodian)

-- Hire: Justin Eubanks (maintenance/custodian)

-- Claims: The board approved the January claims at a total of $224,953.78.

-- National Technical Honor Society: The National Technical Honors Society induction ceremony is set for March 16 at 6 p.m. at Area 30.

The next Area 30 Governing Board meeting will be March 15 at 9 a.m. at the Area 30 Career Center.