BOE Hears Update On Career, Technical, And Agricultural Education
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Photo courtesy of Dade County Schools – DCHS students had the chance to make videos as part of GSBA’s contest. The top four videos were shown at the Oct. school board meeting. Video creators are (back row from left) Aidan Kerns, Halen Chaney, Tanner Miller, LG Wiley, Claire Holmes, Alana Hawkins, and (front row) Sofia Varricchio, Evie Wood, Ashlyn Smith.
A highlight of the Oct. 28 meeting of the Dade County Board of Education was an update on Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) by Tonya Gatlin (work-based learning teacher, CTAE director).
First, Josh Ingle (superintendent) reported that Dade County High School’s four-year graduation rate is 88.2 percent, up from last year’s 86.88 percent. It’s also above the state average of 85.4 percent.
Ingle then reported that the DCHS hitting facility is on track to be completed before the end of the year. Passersby on GA-136 may notice that the structural steel is now up.
Later, near the end of the meeting, the board approved a total of $24,983.67 for the building’s access control system and interior and exterior security cameras. The exterior cameras added about $10,000 to the total, and Ingle asked the board for their thoughts on including exterior cameras.
Jayne Griffin (At-Large) said, “If it makes it more secure, to me, it’s worth $10,000 even though that seems like an exorbitant amount for two cameras,” and the board all agreed to the exterior cameras.
Ingle then noted that each year, the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) holds a student video contest. This year’s theme is, “Our Schools, Our Stories, Celebrating Public Education.” Out of the 30 videos submitted by DCHS students, Dade County Schools had to narrow it down to one to submit to GSBA. The state-wide winner will be announced in December.
At the meeting, Ingle played the top four videos and announced that Tanner Miller and Halen Chaney’s video was the one selected to be submitted to GSBA.
Josh Hurst (video broadcasting teacher) who sponsored the activity expressed his pride in these students, a few of whom hope to go into videography as a career.
Gatlin then reported on each of the seven CTAE pathways, as well as work-based learning and dual enrollment welding. Highlights include:
- Agriscience Pathway: Vet science and floral design classes have been added.
- Digital Video Technology & Communications Pathway: Gatlin described these classes as high energy and recommended DCTV Now to interested viewers.
- Business & Technology Pathway: 84 percent of students in the pathway passed the Microsoft certification exam. Several students in the pathway have also completed unpaid internships at River Run Logistics and Georgia Power.
- Construction (Carpentry/Electrical) Pathway: 100 percent of the students passed the OSHA Ten Certification.
- Healthcare Science Pathway: See the accompanying article in this issue of the Sentinel to read about one exciting development in this pathway.
- Mechatronics Pathway: Mike Beeler is now helping with Greenpower USA racing events to expand student opportunities.
- Nutrition & Food Science Pathway: For just a glimpse into what this pathway does, see the Nov. 22, 2023, Sentinel article “Dade Students and Helping Hands Ending Hunger Take Ownership of Food Rescue.”
Then, Gatlin explained the difference between work-based learning (WBL) and youth apprenticeship. To participate in WBL, students must have completed a CTAE pathway or be in the pathway’s final class. While WBL can be just about any job, youth apprenticeships must be tied into the student’s tentative future career.
In the 2023-2024 school year, 47 students earned a combined total of $211,044 by working 20,707 hours (making the average hourly wage $10.19).
Griffin asked Gatlin what she’s most proud of in regards to CTAE, and Gatlin answered, “Seeing our students recognized for their efforts…Those that never get recognized for anything or never participate in anything, it’s seeing them step up to participate in a CTAE program.”
Before giving the monthly financial report, Loran Grasham (business services director) added, “I was one of Miss Tonya Gatlin’s FBLA/CTAE students…Just knowing the passion these teachers have for our students makes everything we do worth it.”
Lastly, the board approved a safety plan with NGS for $29,348.10 to (in Ingle’s words) “improve safety and security in all of our schools.”
The personnel report is as follows:
- Resignation: Ronnie Cartwright (bus aide)
- Hire: Amy Blevins
- School Nutrition: Lindsay Simmons, Kara McNabb
- Substitute Teacher: Tammy “Ann” Tinker
- Voluntary Transfer: Faye Leverette, Chaley White
