Area 30 preps for Next Level

With new career and technical education (CTE) changes planned to be implemented next school year, questions are still waiting for personnel at the Area 30 Career Center.

State leaders in the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet (GWC) are looking to implement courses in its Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) initiative for 2021-22.

The overall mindset is that NLPS will improve the quality of CTE courses through updated standards for postsecondary certificate programs. As such, these offerings could create more certifications and associate’s degrees.

Area 30 Director Lora Busch gave a rundown of how the program could affect offerings at Area 30 to its interlocal board of directors Tuesday morning. Complicating the offerings are the inclusion of “principle” classes.

The issue, Busch related, is that Area 30 faculty and staff have not been able to consult with its sending high schools in order to develop and implement these new courses. Busch added that the GWC was supposed to notify her and other staff this week about dates for training on NLPS.

Busch cautioned that students should not commit to their classes and put them on their master schedule.

In other business:

• Busch shared with the board that a virtual job shadowing software had been purchased with grant money. She said this would allow students to get an idea of a career path, and that teachers could also use it for lesson planning.

• Busch said Area 30 would not be conducting sophomore or eighth-grade recruitment tours in order to stay as a closed campus. However, student ambassadors will connect with potential students about what the career center has to offer.

Eminence Superintendent Laura Penman was not in attendance, while North Putnam Superintendent Nicole Singer and South Putnam Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt joined remotely.

The next regular meeting of the Area 30 Board is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 9 a.m. in the boardroom.