TAKING A LOOK — Jefferson County Joint Vocational School carpentry instructor Dave Lucas, left, led school board members on a tour of the modular home under construction by his students and said it should be completed by the end of the current school year. Among those participating were board member William Hendricks, center, and JVS Supervisor/Principal Andy Long. -- Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE –The Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board of Education is taking preliminary steps to outline its future goals when it comes to educating tomorrow’s workforce.

Superintendent Todd Phillipson unveiled a draft of career-technical planning district vision goals with a plan to be “a caring, innovative, and inspiring career-technical school for all students.”

He shared a list of core values including tradition, diversity and innovation, inclusion and equity, care and compassion, integrity and respect and excellence. Among its goals is to provide high-quality career and technical programs for all students through quality instruction, technology, and high expectations and to serve the students first; to provide improved delivery of services for special education students; provide College Credit Plus courses for the students at JVS; to expand the subdivision at the JVS for the benefit of students in carpentry, electrical trades, heavy equipment and other programs, where applicable; to promote the safety of students, building design utilization and program offerings … by expanding the building; to expand adult education into an Ohio Technical Center service provider; and to use school resources in the most responsible manner for the success of the students.

Phillipson noted that most of the goals could take place within the next year with the subdivision expansion requiring approval by the county regional planning board and commissioners, followed by approval of contractors by the school board. Meanwhile, the building expansion goal would take three to four years with the passage of a bond issue unless a grant became available. Offerings there could include a health academy to courses for a pole lineman or machine trades. Additionally, the adult education goal would require hiring an administrative position to work exclusively on expanding adult education services to OTC status, accreditation and all associated services.

It concluded with keys to success, which include communication and collaboration between the board, administration, community stakeholders and staff on a shared vision; policies and governance by collaborating with the board to implement a shared vision and move the district forward toward goals; instruction to promote high achievement for all students by analyzing data and reviewing research-based best practices for curriculum design and instruction; and resources by supporting instruction, time, technology and services for the benefit of students and staff.

Phillipson also elaborated on the courses, saying the health academy could offer state-tested nurse’s aide and similar classes for juniors while seniors could select their pathways.

“They could go into nursing or pharmacy tech and you’d move on to the senior year for their path,” he said.

Officials said there may be other suggestions made to the plan and they could discuss it further.

“(Board President Steve Bezak III) and I talked,” said board vice president Ron Smyth. “I feel as a board we can use this as a basis. If this needs to be modified, we need to make everybody aware. One thing that was mentioned was first responders, and I think there’s a void out there for firemen and EMT’s. We can start thinking about it. We’ve got a baseline down and I think we can work from it.”

Bezak said discussion could continue as a board or in committees which would then come together with the same vision.

“I think this is the beginning of it,” he added.

Following more discussion, the board agreed to review it further and talk again next month.

Leaders then heard an update on enrollment for the next year, which is expected to increase substantially for the junior class. Phillipson said 270 juniors and 171 seniors were anticipated to attend for the 2024-25 school term, showing an increase of about 60 juniors on the roster.

“It’s a good problem to have to try to squeeze in schedules,” he said.

Supervisor/Principal Andy Long noted that an open house and parent-teacher conference night was set for April 3 from 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and would allow incoming students and their families to view the facilities and meet instructors.

Among other action, the board:

• Heard from Reno Contipelli, northeast regional manager for the Ohio School Boards Association, who presented a Distinguished Board Member certificate to Bezak for 10 years of service on the board. Contipelli added that plans were in the works to meet in the area since many of the local counties had to travel more than an hour to Cleveland. The group will include the executive director, legislative lobbyist and membership;

• Toured the modular home constructed by the carpentry program, which included assistance from electrical trades students and professionals. Instructor Dave Lucas said flooring, cabinets and other work was still needed but the structure should be complete by the end of the current school year;

• Agreed to post positions for an English instructor and math and science intervention specialists;

• Hired Lou DeChristopher as a part-time building cleaner;

• Approved a $3,237 payment to Vincent Dowdle and Associates, LLC, for the Breezewood Manor Addition survey;

• Approved the paving, sealing and striping of two areas by Blackie & Son Excavating and Paving for $23,283.75;

• Approved the purchase of an adult simulator from Gaumard for the health technologies program at a cost of $65,492. The apparatus will be funded through a grant from the Mary Jane Brooks Charitable Trust;

• Approved a memorandum of understanding with Belmont College for College Credit Plus;

• Set the next meeting for 5 p.m. April 16.