School board to decide fate of family and consumer science program
In a special meeting next week, the Perkins County School Board will decide the fate of the family and consumer science program along with FCCLA.
Also on the agenda for the meeting on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the high school media room, is a contract for a new principal. Four interviews are taking place today (Wednesday).
At the regular board meeting on March 18, the board reviewed curriculum and extracurricular activities, and discussed survey results sent to students and staff seeking feedback on course offerings.
Superintendent Phillip Picquet said common themes from the staff included seeing more business, foreign language, computer classes, ag industrial tech, mechanics. Programs/courses that could be refined or eliminated included journalism, creative writing and certain family and consumer science classes.
Student themes showed a strong indication toward industrial tech and ag, especially in the area of mechanics. Art and foreign language were others.
In presenting a list of all courses offered at PCS, Picquet noted they offer several for the school’s size. In career and technical education, PCS offers 180 credits, but is only required to offer 80.
In looking at the past five years, elective courses with an average of three or fewer students included advanced accounting and nearly all of the family and consumer science courses: careers, social issues, parenting, and family living.
Art teacher Lance Wurst and Family and Consumer Science Teacher Cathy Ochsner said it’s a catch 22. While many students may want to take their classes, it all depends on if the schedule fits in with the required classes.
Ochsner said that in the past few years, there are more students taking work study and college courses, leaving them with fewer options for electives. She said many of the survey comments from students and teachers fit the description of her careers class.
“Almost all of my classes are career-readiness. They follow critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, family living, communication. It’s to the T what we want to have happening, but if you don’t get the kids in there it can’t happen,” she said.
She added that FCCLA is the only organization in the school that’s family-oriented.
“It has so many opportunities for the kids to grow and it’s been amazing in the 19 years I’ve been here to see that happen,” said an emotional Ochsner.
Ag Teacher Doug Babbitt said to participate in FFA, national rules dictate that students have to take one ag class one semester each year. FFA continues to be popular, with over 40 this year.
“I have kids who admittedly leave other electives out because they have no choice. I try to be as available as I can, but it’s really a huge challenge,” said Babbitt.
Business Teacher Renee Seiler said she would love to see more students in business, as no matter what they do in life, it involves money.
“I keep trying to push that financial literacy,” she said.
Board President Jayson Bishop thanked everyone for their comments, pointing out that the number of students was definitely an issue.
He said the district is down 200 students in the last 18 years, with exactly half as many students as there were 18 years ago.
“There’s just not as many kids to go around, and it’s unfortunate that that’s where we’re at,” said Bishop.
He said he likes that they offer a lot of options, but at the same time, they have to be good stewards of the resources they have.