SYLACAUGA — A collaborative effort between the School System, Coosa Valley Medical Center and Central Alabama Community College is bringing a health care studies class to the high school.The Board of Education approved the addition of the class Tuesday night as an elective at Sylacauga High starting in the 2005-2006 school year.
Christie Caine, career tech and cooperative education coordinator at the high school, told the board the class is something the system has been working to implement. It is especially important, she said, because of the health care shortage, especially in Talladega County.
Thanks to the collaborative effort between the system, hospital and community college, Schools Superintendent Jane Cobia said the course is being started at no cost to the School System.
The class is open to all juniors and seniors at the high school who have demonstrated an interest in the health care field and maintained a 2.70 overall grade point average. Additional criteria will include an application, interview, attendance, disciplinary record and teacher recommendation.
Caine said the class will provide students with essential knowledge and skills for entering the health care profession. Students will be allowed to explore careers and examine current issues regarding community health and well being.
All classes will be taught on site at Coosa Valley Medical Center. Students will be responsible for transportation to and from the hospital.
According to the proposal for the class, Health Resources and Services Administration said Talladega County has been identified as one of 16 counties in the state on the critical nursing shortage list.
Through this partnership, students will have the opportunity to explore health care fields in real life settings.
Teaching strategies include classroom instruction, clinical labs, project-based assignments, speakers from various specialties, group learning, peer tutoring, lecturing, demonstration and other learning.
CACC will provide the instructor.
The class is limited to 20 students per semester, Caine said.
Also during the meeting, Caine and other career tech instructors Sean Stevens and Leigh Hall and two students presented a program recognizing career tech. This is Career Tech Week in Alabama.
Career tech offers classes ranging from entrepreneurship to family dynamics to digital photography. The program is available at both the high school and Nichols-Lawson Middle School.
Also Tuesday night, the board approved a recommendation from Cobia following a study made by the Class Schedule Committee at the high school of the modified block schedule.
The board agreed to expand the current scheduling method of the modified block with the understanding the following terms be included: professional development on the modified block schedule will be provided annually for current and new teachers; and guidance and administration will evaluate course selections on an annual basis in order to provide further modifications on the modified block schedule when necessary to enhance student performance.
In other business, the board:
O Recognized Child Nutrition Program employees at Indian Valley School for a School Meals Initiative.
O Approved a leave of absence for Ami Brooks, first-grade teacher at Indian Valley.
O Approved a position description for job coach.
O Presented a proposed 2005-06 school calendar for review until the March meeting.
O Adopted policies on fiscal management and light duty.
O Accepted a second year extension from Feb. 1, 2005, to Jan. 31, 2006, to Onyx Corporation for garbage services at the same prices as last year.
O Approved a 1982 Chevrolet Fleetside pickup truck as surplus property, removing it from the system’s inventory and transferring it to the city to be sold at Sylacauga’s next auction of surplus equipment.
O Heard a summary of student incidents for the first term of 2004-2005 from Kelly Lakey, student services coordinator.
o Approved a contract with architects Barganier Davis Sims for miscellaneous school projects including roofing of Indian Valley School.
O Approved a revised gifted education plan developed by the special education department and committee made under the direction of the state.
The next scheduled board meeting is Tuesday, March 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office on West Fourth Street. These meetings are open to the public.
