BATC Report To RC School Board

Anita Weston, reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. December 21, 2016. Troy Christensen presented information to the Board concerning Bridgerland Applied Technology College (BATC).  He had a video that he played for the Board dealing with what they call stackable credits.  BATC and USU have built a curriculum that allows for 90 credits from BATC to transfer to USU as 30 credits.  These credits can be earned while still attending high school or while attending BATC.  They are accepted by USU and move students forward without having to retake any courses.

Christensen noted certificates start careers and degrees elevate them.  In other words, a student can gain a certification and get a good paying job.  As they work, they generally decide that they would like to gain more education to allow themselves to increase their pay check.  Thus, they are able to be accepted into USU and already have credits that move them toward their goal while still working if necessary.  It seems to work out really well for the students who have been following this path.

Statistics show that technical skills fill 68 percent of the jobs that pay a livable wage.  A bachelor’s degree fills about 21 percent of all jobs and a higher PHD education is needed by about 11 percent of the jobs.  It is easy to see that skills are where the majority of the jobs in the work force exist.

Christensen said there are two key points that individuals should be aware of.  First, there are exit and entrance points that must be considered.  Also specific, relevant, and economical facts must be known.  The most common path is getting a high school diploma.  Next is a technical certification, then an association science degree and finally a bachelor’s degree.

At Rich High School, the students are able to have concurrent enrollment.  Students have the opportunity of getting most of those required credits for an associate degree.  A bachelor’s degree requires 126 credits.  BATC has set up pathways toward the associate degree so that no extra classes are additional credits are required.  It is a very economical and good way to move a student toward a higher education.  BATC has the same agreement with most of the higher education institutions in the state allowing students to transfer to the school of their choice.  Currently, 90 percent of the students gaining certification at BATC are employed when the finish their program.

School Board Meeting Adopts CTSO Program

Anita Weston, reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. December 21, 2016. The Utah State Board of Education has mandated that every high school in the state is required to offer a CTSO (Career Technical Student Program) or the $89,000 add on funding will be withheld. This is generally taken care of by creating student organizations such as FFA (Future Farmers of American) etc. which creates additional work for teachers who are put in charge of these programs.  That means that teachers either need to be paid more or given release time to handle the programs.

Principal Larsen went to the school board with all kinds of facts and figures to show that Rich High School is offering more opportunities to students than any other school in the State.  He told the State Board that Rich High School is the best school in the State.  He then went through what is available to the students here.  He noted that the currently has a 900 hour drafting program, a 900 hour robotics and automation program, a machine shop experience, an agricultural science program, and the current business classes of desk top publishing 1 and 2 and computer science will become a computer science program, there is a welding program, a construction trades opportunity, carpentry, auto diesel experience, several medical programs and a foods and culinary arts experience. 

He noted that 93 percent of the students are involved in these programs as well as athletics and other outside activities.  He said it was putting an extra burden on the teachers in the Rich County School District.

He noted that they didn’t seem to mind hearing about all of these things.  They then explained  that the CTSO that Rich High School should adopt is called Skills USA.  It would fit beautifully because it deals with many of the above programs.  They recommended that any student who isn’t currently in one of the programs be called as the president of the CTSO and that student should then recruit some other students to help.  The students who are outstanding in any of the programs could then be sent to the state and national competitions which means they would be out of school for perhaps a day or two.  The students are responsible for the organization.  It is set up so that the students have an opportunity to develop leadership skills which is the reason for CTSOs in the first place.

A current Utah State School Board Member is also the national board member of Skills USA.  He was at the Board Meeting.  He showed a video of what is expected of schools that belong to Skills USA.  He noted that apparently the students at Rich High School are certainly getting technical skills.  However, he felt that Skills USA would add the opportunity to develop leadership skills.  It is an inter-curricular organization.  It covers all of the programs at school as well as Bridgeland courses.  There are state, regional, and national competitions.  There are dues that will have to be paid.  Generally at the competitions only one student (the best) is sent to represent the school.

The Board was told that if they don’t get something going that the State will recognize as a CTSO program, they will lose the $89,000.  It must be put in place this year in order to not miss out on this year’s funds.  The motion was made and passed by the Board that Skills USA would be adopted and organized within the next few weeks.

Rich County School Board Meeting

Anita Weston, reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. December 21, 2016. A home school request was approved by the Board.

Policy 312.3.1 is about the amount of time a student is allowed to be out of school when they are sick or hurt.  The time period is three consecutive months.  The motion was made and passed with the suggested improvements.

Utah High School Athletic Association has changed regional boundaries.  Principal Larsen reported that the meeting where the changes were made was cordial and went well.  He noted that Rich High School will be the largest school in the new region.  Some of the schools that are now in our region are private schools.  Many do no have all of the same sports as Rich High so there will be interesting changes as time passes.  Rich High School is the only school sponsoring football.

Scott Tolentino attended the workshop for newly elected local board members.  He said that it was a great training meeting.  There were 71 newly elected individuals and 67 of them attended the meeting.  There were four break-out sessions that were especially helpful.  He said that he learned a lot of good things that will be helpful as he begins work on the board.  He noted that several local boards communicate with other board members using social media which kept everyone on the board current with what is happening.  They also shared important topics prior to the meetings so the members can look into these issues before the meeting.  He was told that it was a good idea to attend the City Council meetings to be aware of the work that the various cities are doing.  There is a meeting February 17 on capital hill for all school board members.

The PEHP Health Screening schedules were pretty much filled and were well attended.  Three people came to do the screening and were very professional and competent.  All who attended were given $50.  Individuals who were out of compliance were given suggestions to help them meet their goals.  All who met their goal were given another $50.  This was a very positive thing and made people enthused and willing to attend.

The superintendent noted that the transition from one insurance company to another one was very seamless and was especially well done.  He felt that the business manager should be thanked for all of his help in making this change.

January Board Meeting will be held January 18, 2017.

Clouds over Bear Lake

Photo by Karla Allen