Students and teachers from the Corsicana High School Career and Technical Education program were the highlight of the Corsicana Independent School District regular board meeting Monday night.

Cheryl Stringer, assistant principal and director of CTE, stated that February is National Career and Technical Education month, and discussed two particular challenges facing the program currently.

“One huge challenge we face is to develop better support for students during their ‘make it or break it 9th grade year,’ Stringer wrote in her newsletter, and stated to the board. “Too many 9th graders skip classes, fail courses, break rules, and don’t advance to the 10th grade. Most of this 9th grade slump is from students who don’t see a connection to high school and their future.”

Stringer said the program will soon implement the Kuder Career and Education Planning systems for 9th grade students, and will kick off at “Fish Camp” this year. The assessments will aid students in identifying their areas of career interest, as well as helping guide them in class selection to further these goals.

“Another huge challenge we face with CTE is the 4x4 graduation requirements,” she said. “This leaves students with precious few electives. Those students not in the top 10 percent of their class aren’t able to take as much advantage of the technical classes, and we owe it to all of our students to succeed — not just those in the upper percent of the class.”

Several teachers were introduced, including Belinda Mendoza with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization. Mendoza said they had three goals for their organization, which were to increase membership, complete one project per month, and have projects which impact the community.

Danny Schanz, CHS sophomore, said he fell in love with the club because he has seven brothers and sisters, and family is a huge priority for him. Michael Williams, FCCLA area president of Region III and CHS student, showed Schanz the ropes at the state convention this past year. Schanz then became vice president of the local club, as well as vice president of the region.

“We have increased our membership from 96 members to 153,” Schanz said. “I love the organization. It makes me a better person, and my favorite thing is that it’s family-focused.”

Megan Knott, also of FCCLA, related to the board members about her experience with the club. She wanted to join the organization because she was a senior, but fell in love with her project, and excelled. A foster child herself, Knott did a project with Child Advocates of Navarro County, where they put out life-sized cutouts of children waiting for adoption.

“Kim Martinez handed me a project, and my confidence grew,” Knott said. “I realized the project was changing my life, too.”

Bill Crawford with the CHS building trades department introduced two young men from his program, and gestured toward three different framed home models done on a 1/16th scale. He stated his program has 38 young men working on their carpentry level I certification, which is very much like a college transcript, and are being taught the same curriculum as students in Waco at TSTC.

“I feel like these fine young men are headed in the right direction,” Crawford said. “We have 70 students in the program right now.”

Stringer also introduced Michael Schmidt, a new teacher to the CHS auto tech program, and comes from TSTC.

“He lives and breathes it,” Stringer said to the board. “He will go back out there tonight to meet students and work on competition projects ... We are very blessed to have Michael Schmidt in our program.”



CISD BOARD MEETING BRIEFS



New Pac10 program banquet Feb. 19

Dr. Keith Moore, principal of Corsicana High School, said the newly-formed Pac10 group, made up of top 10 individuals from ethnic sub-groups in each class, will have its first banquet Thursday. Moore wants all students to have a “voice” in CHS, as well as encourage students to partner with adult role models/sponsors on staff.



Personnel changes in district

Resignations were accepted from Sharron McDonald, Collins; Shawn Purcell, CHS; Susan Smith, Navarro; Sherry Thornton, CHS; Laura-Walker Holmes, CHS; Neal Franks, CHS; and Esther Smith, Bowie. New hires were Janis Pair for Carroll Elementary nurse, and Amber Hughes, special education/volleyball coach, CHS.



CISD accepts donations

The board voted to accept donations from the Sam Houston PTO in the amount of $9,500 to purchase three smartboards and projection systems for their school, and from Firestone in the amount of $5,000 for Carroll Elementary, in order to construct a greenhouse.



Polling places for next election set

Chip Curington, deputy superintendent, said CISD election polling places must be the same as city and county polling places. The Bears’ Den for 201 and 206 was selected since it is larger than the East Side Housing Authority, and a polling place at the Richland Civic Center was added for the 10 registered voters CISD has in Streetman.



Calico spring competition trip OK’d

Unanimous approval was given by the school board for the Calicos at CHS to make a spring trip to San Antonio for a competition, noting there were “ample” sponsors.



2009-2010 school calendar approved

The school calendar for 2009-2010 was approved, with a school start date for students of Aug. 24, 2009. Christmas break will be Dec. 21- Jan. 1, spring break March 15-19, and last day of class being May 27, 2010.

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