Triad officials are hoping to receive a $2.5-million grant that would allow them to add an expansion to the high school that renovates the ag lab and adds an allied healthcare lab and IT lab to teach classes in those career pathways. The addition, highlighted by the gray square with arrows pointing toward it, would be adjacent to the high school loading dock.
(Graphic submitted)
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Triad officials are hopeful a grant opportunity will lead to more of its students graduating with career certificates and prepared to enter the workforce.
The district applied for $2.5 million in funding through the Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant, Superintendent Vickie Maruniak explained during the most recent Board of Education meeting.
If awarded, Triad would construct an expansion on the high school building adjacent to the loading dock that adds an allied healthcare lab, IT lab and renovates the existing agriculture lab and adds a lecture space.
“We’re looking for jobs that kids can graduate and be already in the market,” Maruniak said.
Maruniak said in an interview that the goal of the grant is to expand the number of career and technical programs at districts throughout the state.
While Triad has a number of students that participate in these programs, Maruniak said they all currently go to Ohio Hi-Point to do so. If Triad is awarded the grant, students will be able to take these classes at the district’s high school.
Maruniak emphasized that “our goal is not to take (students) away from Hi-Point.”
She said some of the more popular pathways – like nursing – meet their capacities at Hi-Point quickly, so Triad offering courses would allow more students to participate.
She said nearby districts have also expressed an interest in bussing their students to Triad to participate in those courses.
Maruniak noted that, when Triad eighth graders move on to high school, they are required to declare two career pathways.
Along with their core classes like English and math, students take classes that correspond with their pathway. Those courses begin their freshman year and continue until they graduate.
Students who pursue nursing or IT in Triad’s new, in-house pathways would have similar schedules, Maruniak said.
She said the curriculum is largely laid out by the state and there are a variety of courses that can be offered for each pathway. Students are required to complete a certain number of classes in order to earn certifications.
Students in either of the new pathways would be able to graduate with a number of career certifications.
In nursing, they range from first aid to patient care technician to STNA (state tested nurse aid), which qualifies a student to work in a nursing home.
Those in IT could earn CompTIA certifications, which are the industry standard for information technology careers.
In the allied healthcare lab, there would be four medical stations, each with hospital beds and a sink, separated by curtains that can be pulled forward.
That lab would connect to a lecture space with folding chairs and tables so it can be rearranged as needed. Maruniak said the room could also be used as a community space.
Across the hallway would be a renovated ag lab, next to a new IT lab.
Maruniak said the space would likely have screens on the walls and be equipped with laptops so it enables “movement” depending on what layout best suits the course. She said she can also envision the space being used for gaming clubs or eSports after school.
Maruniak said she feels Triad’s application for the grant is strong.
She said awards are based partly on increasing the number of career “concentrators,” and Triad technically has none since they go to Hi-Point.
The superintendent said she feels the district’s plans to add two new programs “also gives us a leg up.”
“I think our chances are good,” Maruniak said.
The grant would cover the cost of everything but personnel, she said. The district plans to hire two new teachers for the new programs.
“I don’t think there’s any issue (financially) in adding those two,” Treasurer Nathan Hilborn said.
Instead, Maruniak said the toughest part will be finding and hiring teachers who are qualified to instruct the courses for those pathways.
The district will be notified in mid- to late-January if it is awarded the grant.
If so, it must begin offering the proposed classes by August.