Tri-Creek changing some vocation ed classes

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LOWELL — Officials are looking to eliminate “dead end” courses in the vocational education program to get the system in-line with upcoming state changes.

In a work session Thursday the Tri-Creek School Board went over the course changes that will be made and how that will impact funding and students. Officials also reviewed a number of state course name changes.

Connie Richie, director of guidance, said the state will be dropping Accounting II, Computer Programming, Business College Prep, Computer Repair and Maintenance Technology and Professional Career Internship from the vocational education pathways.

“What we tried to do is replace those classes with something comparable,” Richie said.

Replacement classes include Principals of Business Management, Advanced Business Management, IT Essentials, Computer Tech Support and Introduction to Transportation.

New courses for Lowell High School will include Algebra Enrichment, AP World History, Integrated Chemistry-Physics and AP Microeconomics. Content in the 14 courses where the names have been changed will remain the same.

Superintendent Debra Howe said the changes to the vocational classes are necessary to ensure state funding continues. The state will only fund approved classes that will follow a vocational pathway that provides students with tangible training or certification that will allow them to transition from high school to a job. Classes dropped by the state will not be funded.

“The state won’t pay for dead-end courses,” Howe said.