Chat about expanding tech education in the Lawrence school district.

Deputy Superintendent Bruce Passman and Tech Ed Specialist Patrick Kelley will be in for an online chat about the expanding tech ed program and JCCC’s partnership with the district.

Moderator

Thanks for joining us for today’s chat with Patrick Kelly and Bruce Passman from the Lawrence School District. I’m your moderator, 6News Director Cody Howard. We’ll begin in just a couple of minutes.

Moderator

Sorry, hit a momentary glitch there, but we’re back up and running. Let me say again, thanks for being. Let’s begin.

Moderator

Sorry, hit a momentary glitch there, but we’re back up and running. Let me say again, thanks for being. Let’s begin.

Moderator

Please start by providing some background on the new partnership with Johnson County Community College and the services being provided.

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

We have had a task force that has been meeting for the past several years with the primary purpose of trying to identify technical educational opportunities for students and adults in the community. Johnson County along with other community college providers have been members of the task force. Through these discussion we felt that Johnson County best suited our need and we are excited about the opportunities before us.

Moderator

When will high school students be able to enroll in vo/tech classes?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

The district currently has career and technical education programs in Agriculture, Business, Computer Programming, Cabinetry, Communications Technology, Welding, Auto Tech, Drafting, Family and Consumer Science, Marketing, Accounting, Small Engine Repair and Construction. Students can enroll in any of these courses at this time. Many also are enrolled in courses at Johnson County Community College. More opportunities will be available as early as this fall.

Moderator

Will JCCC have a building or some sort of presence in the community? If so, when?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

We are currently looking for space that will enable Johnson County Community College (JCCC) to have a visible presence this fall.

LRT

I’ve heard about the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics team between the two high schools. Are there any plans to expand this team at the high school level and perhaps offer some of FIRST’s other programs, such as the lego league, at the junior high level?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

We have had discussions with FIRST robotics team about creating a career pathway for engineering that could support these activities. Pre-engineering is an emerging career and technical education program. We will continue to evaluate to determine program expansion possibilities.

Moderator

What costs will students incur as a result of taking vo/tech courses?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

There are a variety of fees assessed for career and technical education courses. Some courses have no fees and others, such as photography, have relatively high fees. As a district we are constantly evaluating ways to reduce these fees but still provide the curriculum.

cowboy

With all due respect , a CNA type program is not what this community needs , Why would you not bring your skilled trade programs directly to lawrence ? I.E HVAC , auto tech , medical tech programs , jobs that have a future in the area ?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

As we said earlier we already offer some of these programs in our schools (auto tech). Many of our programs provide training in a variety of skills. The Kansas Occupational Outlook has identified health careers as being a high-demand, high-pay and high-growth career field. In order to provide a broad range of career pathways for our students and meet the need expressed by our community we felt that health careers was the best place to begin our relationship with Johnson County Community College.

Moderator

Why isn’t USD497 partnering with KU on this initiative?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

The University of Kansas has a number of areas in which they excel and are recognized nationally. The kind of technical education that we are developing with Johnson County is not an interest of the University of Kansas and they have been supportive of our efforts in working with JCCC is providing opportunities for students. By contrast, JCCC is one of the premiere technical training institutions in the region.

Moderator

How will other members of the community (not students) benefit from this partnership?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

All classes provided by Johnson County Community College will be open to the community. Further, JCCC is beginning to work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and specifically the Manufacturers Network to address training needs of employees. In their broker role JCCC is working to pool resources to provide technical training for business and industry in Lawrence. Everyone in Lawrence benefits from a well educated, well trained workforce.

consumer1

Is Patrick Kelly the band teacher from west?? Also, when you say tech are you speaking auto tech classes? I could not find the article associated to the question.

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

Yes, I did teach at West and enjoyed my time there very much.
Automotive Technology is one of our programs and is included under the umbrella of Career and Technical Education.

Moderator

Here’s a link to an earlier article in the Journal-World.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/29/jccc_bring_training_classes_lawrence/

Moderator

What classes are you looking to offer in the future?

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

We are always monitoring the interests of our students and the needs of our community to determine what Career and Technical Education programs should be offered in Lawrence. In the fall will begin our first classes in Construction Technology and Small Engine Repair. Our Construction program was developed based on feedback we received for the USD 497 Technical Education Task Force and the Lawrence Home Builders Association. There is interest in creating a Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program for our students and we have begun to discuss an Animation Program.

Moderator

That’s all the time we have today. Our thanks to Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelly for joining us.

Bruce Passman and Patrick Kelley

Thanks for your interest in Career and Technical Education in the Lawrence Public Schools. If you have any further questions or suggestions feel free to contact Bruce Passman or Patrick Kelly.