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AISD workshop backs concept of career school
More Education Board members, a few administrators and about a dozen community members discussed aspects of the long-debated career and technology high school Monday night to consider advancing with more plans for the school.
Although no action could be taken at the workshop, board members presented their stances on the subject before opening the floor to the public.
Although board members and community members offered differing points of view, the consensus in the Crockett Room of the AISD administration building was clear: The city needs a career and technology school.
Soon.
"We continue to hear feedback in the community that we are not graduating a work force that is ready to go to work," said AISD board President Stan Lambert. "That's why we continue to fight this battle ... because we think these kids deserve to have alternative programs that can teach some skills that they will use the rest of their lives."
The question of need for the school is no longer an issue for board member Samuel Garcia.
"I'm past the point of 'do we need this?' We need it," said Garcia, the second person to speak at the workshop. "There's a demand I keep hearing that indicates we're not meeting the needs."
Board members debated whether the district needed a separate facility for the school and whether the curriculum in place was sufficient. In the end, though, board members agreed that there was still a need for the school. The unknown factor was how best to achieve that outcome.
Lambert said the situation required a "rifle approach" instead of a "shotgun approach."
"It was important that we see everyone's perspective and everyone's focus," Lambert said. "I think it's premature to say, 'This is the direction we need to go now' based on what was discussed tonight. But I do think that we'll take what was talked about and try to see if we can't pool that down into a bit of a narrower focus and start making some decisions about a game plan for the next couple months."
The beginning of that game plan could come soon. Lambert said the issue could be on the board's agenda as early as in the next two or three meetings.
Board members didn't discuss the need for a new facility as much as they did the need for the program. Like Holland Medical High School, they said, the success of the program would predicate any upgrades to facilities.
"The first thing and foremost" are the programs, board member Charlie Wolfe said. "And you have to have the right programs."
Though facilities were discussed a little less than the curriculum, Lambert said the issue will not disappear.
"Whether it's something that can be looked at in the near future or whether it's something we need to look at down the road, I think it's always going to be there because I just don't think we've got existing facilities that can meet the demands of our previous programs," Lambert said. "Facilities will continue to be a topic whether it's existing or whether it's new."
Posted by unsub on August 19, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here we go again!
Posted by Tumbleweed on August 19, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stop the madness! How did this group come up with "...the consensus in the Crockett Room of the AISD administration building was clear: The city needs a career and technology school."
If the need is based on dropout rates because kids are bored, then there are some parents in town that need to parent up. I was told you can drop out of school when you get the diploma. Today’s children in Texas can't read, write and do math on the national average what makes anyone think they can learn how to work on my transmission or draw blood.
First things first!
Posted by jarlead on August 19, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THIS IS GETTING OLD! If the school district with $100 million cannot educate a work force, then why give them anything else. We voted on this but the "Powers that be" want it and will not drop it.
I say let vote OUT any person who even says a word about this. Do not do BUSINESS with any business who keeps pushing this. Man, this is getting old!
Posted by officerx on August 19, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow...fine words of encouragement for the students in AISD, I'm sure they appreciate that from ya'll. No wonder everyone wants to go Wylie, who can blame them?
Posted by bigdaddy5 on August 19, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wonder where laj went to school. you sound like an ignorant jack donkey.
Posted by jojojo on August 19, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sound like a few in here needed a Magnet School when they were in school.
Posted by crazylady on August 19, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like everything else in this town the ones with 'power' won't stop until they get their way, no matter the outcome of the recent voting. They just find different ways to do it.
officerX- go ahead and go to Wylie, they have less programs to offer than Abilene.
Posted by ualslw2c on August 19, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did you against the money to refurbish Lincoln or did you vote against a career and technology school?
Posted by unsub on August 19, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wylie doesn't have a career tech school! OMG, what's wrong with them? Maybe the community leaders can set Wylie ISD straight when they finish with AISD.
Posted by whatif on August 19, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The majority of our students go on to college. When or if there is a need for one, I am sure WISD will address that issue.
Posted by jarlead on August 19, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bigdaddy why does it sound ignorant to keep flushing money down the drain? For your information I have 4 advanced degrees and considered an expert in Education. MONEY does NOT make a good education, teachers do and a good administration is essential.
Do you even know what a Magnet School is? How did we do without them in the past and still produce scientist, doctors, teachers, etc. AMAZING
Do you even know what it takes to educate a student who can read at grade level when they reach High School?
The major issue here is we have voted on this several times. Do you even know what a Republic form of government is?
Personally, your comments show more ignorance than a jack donkey who is truly much smarter than you think!
Posted by robertvp on August 20, 2008 at 12:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good point laj. BigDaddy and JOJOJO ignorance is putting more money in a failing situation.
Ignorance is putting the word ingorant with the work Jack Mule. They are much smarter, quick learners, long memories, tougher and have more endurance than horses. http://muleschool.com/_wsn/page9.html
I challenge BigDaddy and JOJOJO to articulate in intelligent means why we need more magnet schools and how the AISD would make them work better than what they are offering now. Also, why they cannot take the same students and transfer that budgetary amount to educate them in the way that YOU think would work.
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