Area 30 Board approves CTE-related items

While students get back to their routines at school and at the Area 30 Career Center, staff members are still looking ahead with regard to class offerings.

Area 30’s interlocal board of directors considered these issues during its regular meeting held Tuesday morning. What was discussed and approved was ultimately in the interest of continuing to give students options.

Area 30 Director Lora Busch came to the board for approval of new course codes at Area 30. These, she said, were part of establishing a pathway for visual communications and graphic design.

The board approved the new course codes. These are set to be offered next school year.

Busch also spoke on how Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) would be implemented at Area 30. The greatest concern has been with students still being in Early College classes developed with Vincennes University.

Busch added that the state had recommended non-standard course waivers for certain courses offered at Area 30. This is so the partnership with Vincennes would not be affected.

The board approved these waivers for five Next Level programs: Criminal justice, computer systems and networking, auto services technology, auto collision technology and W.I.R.E.D. (advanced manufacturing). These will be sent to the state for approval.

Busch also gave an update on where Area 30 stands with its lease. She provided that Ascena Retail Group had been sold last December to Premium Apparel LLC, itself a subsidiary of the private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

With Ascena no longer in bankruptcy, Busch said the lease is set to expire in June. She added that Area 30 had been in discussions with a Bruce Wong, a Premium Apparel executive, and that negotiations for the lease could begin in March.

In other business:

• The board approved the hiring of Mark Bone as an assistant for the morning welding class at Area 30.

Busch said this was considered a temporary position, and that Bone will be paid through a COVID-19-related Perkins fund. As such, this is not a budget increase.

• Busch announced that CNA clinicals will begin the week of Feb. 15. While residents at Mill Pond Health Campus are to have already received COVID-19 vaccines by then, students will be expected to get tested weekly.

• Busch announced that a virtual open house of Area 30 will be held on Feb. 9.

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