Vo-tech looks to expand curriculum
The Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School is hoping to offer a veterinary technician assistant program to students next school year. The school’s joint operating committee granted permission Monday for the administration to move ahead with obtaining approvals for the program from the state Department of Education.
Agriculture Instructor Dave Herring will teach the program that will focus on the care, well-being, behavior, anatomy and physiology of small animals.
According to a program outline, students will be able to explore careers available in the field of small animal maintenance, including those involving pet grooming and boarding, retail sales, animal nutrition and veterinary technician’s assistant.
Consumer concerns, animal welfare, genetics and animal growth and development as well as the reproductive process, animal diseases and animal parasites will be discussed, according to the outline.
Herring said the program fits under the umbrella head of agriculture, which will still be offered to students.
Herring and Dr. Edward Jeffreys, vo-tech director, said a lot of students are interested in pursuing this type of program.
Herring said he has known academically successful students with an interest in becoming a veterinarian, but weren’t sure if they would be accepted into veterinary school.
“We have an opportunity to open a door there,” said Herring, who has been working on the program concept for about two years and has observed another school in Indiana operate a similar program.
Jeffreys said the committee also can consider adding the program as a night class for adults.
In other business, the committee granted permission for the administration to add a pre-engineering academy for interested students enrolled in a vo-tech sending school district.
The pre-engineering program is scheduled to start next year.
Last week, the Laurel Highlands School Board unanimously agreed to offer the pre-engineering class to its students. Acting Superintendent Dr. Gary Brain said then that high school students enrolled in the academy will take a two-period robotics/automation class at the vo-tech.
According to Jeffreys, Machine Production instructor Thomas Degusipe will train students to use computer-aided design (CAD) technology as a part of the program.
Added Dorothy Grahek, joint operating committee president, on the value of the program, “I think this is a good opportunity to get more academic students here to see what we have to offer.”
The committee also:
– Purchased Web-Echo communication monitoring or security software from Dell/ASAP Software for $5,853, the lowest of three quotes received.
– Entered into an agreement with the Fayette County Housing Authority Adult Daily Living Center to provide observational experiences to students enrolled in the vo-tech Health Occupations program.
– Granted permission for the Health Occupations instructor to attend the Nurse Aide training, Teach the Educator Program in Harrisburg in March at a cost of $958. The training is required for certification in the Certified Nursing Assistant program.
– Authorized the hospitality and hotel management instructor and four students to attend a hospitality competition in State College in March at a cost of $912.
– Added Eric Scott Livengood and Chad Allen Stanton to the professional substitute list for all shops.
– Transferred $37,000 from the general fund to the cafeteria fund to cover payroll and expenses.
– Agreed to purchase Design Standard CS3 K-12 licensure and media kit software for the use in the computer technology and graphic arts programs from Dell/ASAP Software at a cost of $4,411, the lowest quote received. The expense is within budget guidelines, reported the administration.
– Tabled a motion to appoint current guidance counselor Brian Reams as school principal with his pay to remain the same, and advertise for the guidance counselor position. The committee could approve the move at the March meeting.
– Accepted the resignation of Cindy Tomasek, part-time cafeteria worker, effective March 7.
Lynn Huggins, cafeteria manager, said Tomasek will be missed by students.
“She’s been a joy to be around,” said Huggins.
– Awarded a contract to B.C.I. Equipment Specialists for the connection of ventilation equipment in five shops at a cost of $67,120. The bid was the only one the school received, according to the administration.
The committee approved the purchase of the ventilation systems for the auto body, building construction/carpentry, masonry, welding and diesel shops in November to bring the shops into compliance with state standards for proper ventilation of paint and exhaust fumes and smoke.
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