BVA considers changes to career and tech education

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

The Belle Vernon Area School Board discussed changes to career and technology education for about two hours Tuesday before deciding to add the matter to next week’s agenda for a vote.

The issue is at which grade level the district should begin offering educational programs at the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center. 

Students in the district currently start in their junior year, but Belle Vernon is the only district participating in the CWCTC that waits that long. Most of the nine participating districts start students in 10th grade, and one district offers the program all four years of high school.

Jason Lucia, who took over as the administrative director at CWCTC at the start of the school year, said the programs at the school are currently state approved to cover four years. Lucia said the earlier start gives students several advantages, including the opportunity to take advanced courses and participate in job shadowing and cooperative education programs with real-world paid work experience as early as the second semester of their junior year.

“There is a fear factor to go out on a job. It’s easy to sit in a classroom,” Lucia said.

Co-op students  work part-time and return to the school once every two weeks for follow-up to the work experience and for any classroom work that may be needed.

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