Projected Career Academy Enrollment Now At 75

SEBRING - With the Career Academy opening in August at South Florida Community College, the School Board of Highlands County is working to fill its position of coordinator of career and technical education.

After serving as the district's career/tech coordinator for about two years, John Rousch has decided to return to his former position in the classroom at Lake Placid High as a drafting/construction technology teacher.

The possibility of freezing or not filling the position was discussed, but with the school board's focus on getting the Career Academy started this year it was decided that the position needs to be filled, district Human Resources Director Vivianne Waldron said.

The closing date for applications is Monday, June 16.

About 75 students are now confirmed to attend the Career Academy.

"The top number is about 82 or 83, but I'm just allowing for some people to change their mind," Superintendent Wally Cox said recently. "So 75 is a pretty conservative number." Maybe more students will apply during the summer.

In May, only about 42 students had applied for the program, but an open house for the program at the college was well attended and likely prompted some students to apply.

She didn't anticipate the "standing-room only" turnout at the open house, School Board Member Donna Howerton said. A parent thanked her and the board for supporting the Career Academy program.

School Board Member Wally Randall said "I was wondering if that increased turnout correlated into additional qualified applicants, but apparently it has bumped it up from less than 50 to ... about 75."

Through the joint venture with the college, students in the Career Academy will earn a high school diploma and also have the opportunity to earn a certificate or an associate's degree in a technical discipline such as: computer networking, automotive service technology, medical secretary, cosmetology, computer engineering , culinary arts or electronics.