PIQUA — Changes in the career tech honors diploma, as proposed by the State Board of Education, were discussed during the Monday, Aug. 22, meeting of the Upper Valley Career Center’s Board of Education meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Nancy Luce shared her concerns about the new criteria. Three years of one language or two years of two languages would be required. She said given the constraints of career technical student’s school day, there is no time to offer language courses unless the time in the lab is reduced further.
In addition, she said, the credits required for the Career Tech Honor’s Diploma would exceed the Academic Honors Diploma and include a field experience, two portfolios, and additional assessments, preferably resulting in an industry credential. These proposed requirements would significantly limit a student’s ability to earn the CT Honor’s Diploma.
Luce also reported she attended a presentation by Lowe’s representatives of a $25,000 grant check to Upper Valley Career Center SkillsUSA Chapter. For the project, Upper Valley Career Center students will be working with the city of Piqua and the Fusion Community Learning Center in collaboration of Lowe’s to create a welcoming and Internet accessible gathering place of the city’s youth.
In other business, the board:
• Learned the food service program is in compliance with state and federal nutrition guidelines.
• Approved the Shelby County United Way special project grant in the amount of $2,750 for counseling services provided by New Creation Counseling Center for Shelby County students.
• Approved the updated temporary appropriations resolution and certificate of estimated resources.
• Approved the purchase order to Coca Cola for $16,500 for cafeteria operations.
• Approved the purchase order to Reiter Dairy for $21,000 for cafeteria operations.
• Approved the purchase order to ATI Testing for $29,750 for Adult Division LPN testing.
• Approved board policy revisions.
• Approved textbooks for the 2016-17 school year.
• Approved a contract with Midwest Maintenance for the brick restoration to the Garbry Conference and Learning Center, 5 E. State Route 36, Piqua, for $38,000.
• Authorized Director of Business Operations Patrick Gibson to be able to approve change orders for the brick restoration at Garbry Conference and Learning Center. The change orders cannot exceed $25,000.
• Approved the 2016-19 Adult Division Student Catalog.
• Approved a resolution dealing with travel expenses related to official duties while serving the Ohio School Boards Association. Board member Robert Luby is serving on a committee of the OSBA.
• Hired David Collins as a paraprofessional in the HVAC-R program at $25,158.
• Hired Daniel Stuart as a fulltime adult LPN instructor for $53,000
The board’s next meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. in the Adams Board Room in the main instructional building.