Shelby County School Board: Career Academy nearing its preview

Shelby County Public Schools Superintendent James Neihof reported to the school board Thursday that the district is nearing completion of its Career Academy plan and hopes to present it by mid-winter to give students, parents and schools time to prepare for its implementation next year.

Todd Martin

Shelby County Board of Education student board representatives Justin Stewart (left) and Lauren Greenwell (right) pose with West Middle Library Specialist Chellie Gaither after the board recognized her during Thursday’s meeting for writing a novel and working with students on National Novel Writing Month. Looking on in the back are board members Sam Hinkle and Brenda Jackson.

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Todd Martin

Collins Associate Principal Mike Clark (center) poses with Linet Bermudaz (left) and Anton Simpson after the two were recognized at Thursday’s school board meeting for their efforts during the Summer Reading Academy. Bermudaz and Simpson both improved more than one grade level on the fall MAP test after taking part in the summer school program.

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Todd Martin

Shelby County Board of Education student board representatives Justin Stewart (left) and Lauren Greenwell (right) pose with Clear Creek Elementary English Language Learner Assistant Mirza Mendizabel after she was presented with a What Outstanding Work award during Thursday’s school board meeting.

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The academy will be similar to the accelerated academy, giving students focused on the workplace after graduation a path to excel and be more marketable.

Neihof highlighted several areas, which include:

• Small groups, similar to the cohorts used for the accelerated academy.
• Aligning academic classes with vocational classes, so English and math and other courses can incorporate the vocational tracks students’ chose.
• Partnership with employers and the community.

“We’re working with the Area Technology Center to make these elements the framework of the Career Academy,” Neihof said. “This is going to be unlike any others around, and the KDE is offering the freedom to innovate with this project.”

The Career Academy would offer many different approved career clusters, including several tracks that are already in place, such as agriculture, engineering, culinary arts, machine tool technology, industrial maintenance and others.

Southside project moves forward

The board approved the next step for the new Southside Elementary building project. With the plans already submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education, the architects at K. Norman Berry now have the OK to release the job to bid once it receives KDE’s approval. The current schedule has the building construction beginning in late March 2013 and occupancy by summer 2014.

Also at the meeting, the board:

• During discussion, board member Sam Hinkle noted that he was disappointed in the fact that no students attended the county political forum on Oct. 22. “It’s a shame there were no students there,” he said. “It seems like some of the classes could have used that as a teaching tool.”
• Recognized West Middle Library Media Specialist Chellie Gaither for writing a teen novel, Kissing Mitch Murray, and her work at WMS and through the district for National Novel Writing Month in November.
• Recognized What Outstanding Work award winner Mirza Mendizabel, an English Language Learner assistant at Clear Creek Elementary.
• Approved intent to apply for the Race to the Top – District Grant.
• Approved the Collins band and the social studies department to use common-carrier transportation.
• Approved a request for shortened school day for two students with disabilities.