Nearly 70% of all high school students in Calhoun County Schools are taking at least one course at the Career and Technical Center.
“It’s grown every year to the point now where we’re almost maxed out,” Career Center Director Kyle Clark said.
What began in 2008 with five basic courses – automotive, manufacturing, health sciences, digital media and construction – has now expanded to include a teacher academy, business and marketing, chemistry, art and this year’s new addition– law and public safety.
Tyius Jennings, Juwon Walker and Jordan Pratt do some measuring in the construction class. Photo by Joel McNeece
Almost 300 students from Bruce, Calhoun City and Vardaman are transported to the Career Center every day by bus from each campus.
“Transportation could be a nightmare, but we really have a good system, and the drivers do a good job getting the kids back and forth safely and on time,” Clark said.
Currently more than 60 students are enrolled in the chemistry class – a course Superintendent Mike Moore said the district wasn’t able to offer to each school individually.
“It’s incredibly difficult to find a chemistry teacher,” he said. “It’s virtually impossible to find three. The Career Center allows us to hire one and then make it available to all our students in the county.”
The same holds true for art that currently has over 50 students enrolled.
The most popular courses for students among the original five are the health sciences, which helps expose students to the medical field, and digital media, which focuses on modern technology and the many career paths that entails.
“There’s a big difference for students in courses you have to take and courses you want to take,” Clark said. “These are all electives here that serve a purpose.”
“Our goal is to expose our students to as many areas they may want to pursue, so they have a better understanding of what’s required,” Clark said.
The teacher academy prepares students for a potential career in education. Upon completion, students are qualified to serve as a teacher aide.
“Naturally, we would hope they all further their education and pursue a teaching degree,” Clark said.
The more traditional vo-tech courses of automotive, manufacturing and construction have also seen enrollment growth. Each averages 20-25 students per semester.
The newest addition this year is the law and public safety course that is taught by Calhoun City Policeman Mark Whitaker.
Thomas Rutherford and Brieton Sykes work on a car in the automotive shop. Photo by Joel McNeece
“It’s great exposure for students who think they have an interest in criminal justice,” Clark said.
The 10 courses currently taught every school day at the Career Center have filled the large building on Madison Street that once seemed an abundance of space.
“We have one little room left, and we’re looking at turning it into a computer lab,” Clark said.
In addition to its regular daytime hours, the Career Center is expanding into night classes this year beginning with a CNA class that is a joint effort between the school system and Calhoun Health Services.
The intention is to take the 10 best qualifiers into the class. Clark said they had over 50 apply for the course.
“It shows us there is a demand for this,” he said.
Also in the works is to host workforce development classes for local industries.
“Several of our industries have to go out of the county to do their training, but now we have a facility here to help them with that,” Clark said.
They’re also looking into offering adult computer classes at night for the public, Spanish classes, and college prep classes for graduating seniors in the summer.
“Our plan is to offer college algebra and English Comp I to allow our students to get a jump on their freshman year,” Clark said. “I think we have a number of students that would like to take advantage of that kind of opportunity.”
Annual reviews are done on every course offered at the Career Center to evaluate what’s working and what’s not.
“The Career Center has really exceeded our expectations,” Moore said. “It’s had a very positive impact on our county.”