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School board approves vocational program

June 27, 2009

By Laura Geggel

 

By Laura Geggel
Most Mount Si High School students take core curriculum classes like math and language arts. Next year, though, they will have the opportunity to enroll in classes related to dentistry, nursing and more.
Recognizing demand for new workers in several industries, seven Eastside school districts are working together to give their students ample opportunity to pursue careers in fields like medicine, construction and culinary arts.
The program, called the Washington Network for Innovative Careers, or WA-NIC, just received $9 million from the Washington state legislature to help students access classes offering intensive training. Much of this money will finance construction and supplies for the new 16,000-square-foot Allied Health Center, to be located at Lake Washington Technical College. Students enrolled in the dental assisting field, for example, will take their classes at the Allied Health Center, which is slated to open in 2011.
“We’ve worked hard to develop classes that are necessary and relevant to things going on today,” Mount Si High School administrator Cindy Wilson said. 
WA-NIC is an expansion of the Northeast Vocational Area Cooperative, known as NEVAC, a network of the same seven school districts allowing students to enroll in classes not offered at their high schools. The participating WA-NIC and NEVAC districts include Snoqualmie Valley, Riverview, Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island and Northshore. Of these districts, 114 students participated in 2008-09. 
Pamela Darling, program director of NEVAC, explained the four ways in which the new WA-NIC program would differ from NEVAC.
First, WA-NIC offers new classes related to the healthcare field, including nursing assistant, dental assisting, medical assisting, physical therapy assisting and occupational therapy assisting. 
These classes will allow students to funnel into college programs offering certificates in these fields. The nursing certificate, for instance, is a springboard for advanced nursing programs. 
“As you know, health care is an up-and-coming field,” Darling said.
Second, students enrolled in WA-NIC will take classes for three hours per day. Mount Si High School will have two WA-NIC classes: culinary arts and construction trades. 
“The good thing about having a three-hour block is there’s no down time,” Mount Si construction trades teacher Gregg Meyers said.
Third, WA-NIC schools will receive increased funding from its students. Under NEVAC, schools are only reimbursed for a 1.0 full-time equivalency student. With WA-NIC, schools can receive up to a 1.6 reimbursement. 
Last, students in WA-NIC classes will receive industry certifications from their classes. While many receive certifications from their NEVAC classes, it is not a requirement. 
WA-NIC is open to all students, but Darling said she expects the program to fill with mostly juniors and seniors because, unlike underclassmen, they will have gotten the majority of their graduation requirements out of the way. Also, students will not have to pay for WA-NIC classes or, if they earn a B or better, the college credit that goes with it.  
WA-NIC students must provide their own transportation, but Darling said once the Allied Health Center is operating, WA-NIC may try to help students with a park-and-ride like service. 
Snoqualmie Valley School District will not have to pay fees to participate in WA-NIC, although it will continue to pay its NEVAC fees of about $3,900 per year. 
Students can sign up for WA-NIC classes until September. Visit www.nevac.org to learn more.Most Mount Si High School students take core curriculum classes like math and language arts. Next year, though, they will have the opportunity to enroll in classes related to dentistry, nursing and more.

Recognizing demand for new workers in several industries, seven Eastside school districts are working together to give their students ample opportunity to pursue careers in fields like medicine, construction and culinary arts.

The program, called the Washington Network for Innovative Careers, or WA-NIC, just received $9 million from the Washington state legislature to help students access classes offering intensive training. Much of this money will finance construction and supplies for the new 16,000-square-foot Allied Health Center, to be located at Lake Washington Technical College. Students enrolled in the dental assisting field, for example, will take their classes at the Allied Health Center, which is slated to open in 2011.

“We’ve worked hard to develop classes that are necessary and relevant to things going on today,” Mount Si High School administrator Cindy Wilson said. 

 

Mount Si junior Jamie Brett completes a design during her architecture class at Mount Si High School. Next year, the class will be offered through the Washington Network for Innovative Careers program.

Mount Si junior Jamie Brett completes a design during her architecture class at Mount Si High School. Next year, the class will be offered through the Washington Network for Innovative Careers program.

 

 

WA-NIC is an expansion of the Northeast Vocational Area Cooperative, known as NEVAC, a network of the same seven school districts allowing students to enroll in classes not offered at their high schools. The participating WA-NIC and NEVAC districts include Snoqualmie Valley, Riverview, Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island and Northshore. Of these districts, 114 students participated in 2008-09. 

Pamela Darling, program director of NEVAC, explained the four ways in which the new WA-NIC program would differ from NEVAC.

First, WA-NIC offers new classes related to the healthcare field, including nursing assistant, dental assisting, medical assisting, physical therapy assisting and occupational therapy assisting. 

These classes will allow students to funnel into college programs offering certificates in these fields. The nursing certificate, for instance, is a springboard for advanced nursing programs. 

“As you know, health care is an up-and-coming field,” Darling said.

Second, students enrolled in WA-NIC will take classes for three hours per day. Mount Si High School will have two WA-NIC classes: culinary arts and construction trades. 

“The good thing about having a three-hour block is there’s no down time,” Mount Si construction trades teacher Gregg Meyers said.

Third, WA-NIC schools will receive increased funding from its students. Under NEVAC, schools are only reimbursed for a 1.0 full-time equivalency student. With WA-NIC, schools can receive up to a 1.6 reimbursement. 

Last, students in WA-NIC classes will receive industry certifications from their classes. While many receive certifications from their NEVAC classes, it is not a requirement. 

WA-NIC is open to all students, but Darling said she expects the program to fill with mostly juniors and seniors because, unlike underclassmen, they will have gotten the majority of their graduation requirements out of the way. Also, students will not have to pay for WA-NIC classes or, if they earn a B or better, the college credit that goes with it.  

WA-NIC students must provide their own transportation, but Darling said once the Allied Health Center is operating, WA-NIC may try to help students with a park-and-ride like service. 

Snoqualmie Valley School District will not have to pay fees to participate in WA-NIC, although it will continue to pay its NEVAC fees of about $3,900 per year. 

Students can sign up for WA-NIC classes until September. Visit www.nevac.org to learn more.

Written by Laura Geggel · Filed Under Local News 

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