Public and student input is sought

By Margaret Hopper

It's not finished yet; it's still taking shape. Opportunity High School is partly Vo Tech and still more about credit recovery. There are about 80 students at OHS altogether. Of these, by next semester, there should be about 18 welding students, a few CNA's, an electrical group, a small but sturdy class for the construction trades, computer technology students and the rest, 45 or more, just looking to recover credits for graduation. Whatever those missing classes are, OHS helps the students get those credits.

But the credit recovery group is expected to phase out as the Vo Tech portion grows and replaces it. Jason Ping, principal of OHS, says new subjects should be coming on in the near future, but exactly what those classes will be has not yet been determined. He hopes students and parents will help make those decisions, and that the community at large will support these choices in a number of ways.

Students need to tell planners what training they want and need, and commit to getting experience in place before they graduate. Businesses know what they need but aren't getting; they have a large role to shape the Vo Tech into a job-producing facility that sets high standards and gets area kids ready for serious employment. And parents should be 100 percent involved in helping the school and community put the ideas together. Their kids have everything to gain.

At present, the Vo Tech training is coming from WNMU. It has the equipment and resources to mix the high school students in their classes along with regular college students and adults. The students still at OHS are working with a staff of five who help them with history, science, math and English. Study blocks run from 8:00 a.m. to 11, and from 2:00 p.m. to 5. A few classes may be even later in the evening.

By noon, the students returning from WNMU will come back for lunch and then take their turn at academics with the staff. Those who have finished their credit work for the day have already had lunch and will go to WNMU for their Vo Tech classes. At this point, there are no bus transfers. Parents either take the kids there, or a few students may drive themselves.

Ping says these high school kids are holding their own with the older students, and they have already racked up 120 college credits this year, surpassing all the dual credit work OHS students have done in past years. It is so encouraging that the college is thinking about making this a pilot project for other cooperative efforts in the area.

The CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants), computer techs, welding and electronics students are doing well at WNMU, and in January, building trades students will begin classes there. Plans are for framing, plumbing, dry wall and other skills to be taught in intensive three-week periods each.

What direction will additional Vo Tech classes take? Ping admits he doesn't know, but there are possibilities for auto and diesel mechanics, heavy equipment operators and certified tradesmen in many fields. Is agriculture another direction the classes could take? He says this is early in the transition, so many things are possible that he can't predict, but he is certain that community involvement is critical to getting the important things in place.

The future offerings need to fit the county's opportunities and fill the needs of both employers and employees. Many good jobs do not go to local people because their training standards have been too limited, and they don't have the certifications needed to get them the higher-paying jobs. This needs to be worked into the Vo Tech structure.

One community asset not yet used is the experience and wisdom of area retirees who achieved highly and who know how to reset standards to the levels expected in other parts of the country. Grant County has far too many public buildings needing constant repairs and other projects failing and far too few well-trained employees, who know how to contribute to their jobs, to presume that local standards are "good enough". It may be time to listen to more voices "out there". They should be welcomed to speak. And Ping says he is ready to listen. Their input is needed as Silver Consolidated Schools develops the new standards.

It is time for planning, he said, and those with interests in the Vo Tech should soon come forward. The process is based on meeting the present needs, not trying to predict in advance and making costly mistakes. That is why the new classes will be built on known commitments, not just guesses as to who will sign up. Students especially need to speak up if they are interested in subjects not yet offered. The next planning efforts will go into creating training classes for those who ask for something specific.

The important thing is to give each student the needed credits for graduation in the spring, and those who take the Vo Tech classes, the training and experience needed to compete for jobs after graduation, too. There are a lot of details to be worked out. Still on the wish list is bus transportation between WNMU and high school, but that probably won't be practical until there are about a hundred students needing transportation; then it might be a focus, he said.

Some local employers are communicating with the school presently, hoping to give enough information so minimum standards and certifications can be built into the program. They have stated they would like to hire from the graduating classes if the students can meet their standards. The typical business might hire 3 to 5 graduates, but some big players are also staying in contact.

The needs and job opportunities are somewhat known; local businessmen have committed to hiring those who are competently trained and who will act in a win-win situation so both employees and employers succeed. The missing ingredients, job training and readiness, could be supplied by this Vo Tech venture Silver Schools has started up. They are working with small assets, but making progress.

Another angle for growing the opportunity is grant writing. Ping said he and helpers are investigating the potential grants and spending time writing. It will take an all-out effort to mature the Vo Tech idea, and the district is looking in many directions for new ways to make this a permanent reality. But community input and volunteer efforts are also critical to success. Experienced people on committees or as advisors should soon find a welcome, as planners reach a point where they can handle the additional input. They will be asking for it from those in the community who have practical ideas to offer.

Will students, parents and community take the time and energy needed to make this work? Will they give what it takes when the call comes for additional help? That knock you hear is Opportunity. A lot of local people hope the response is strong enough to bring the project to a successful and continuing program.