The Gloucester County School Board recognized both Career and Technical Education Month and Black History Month at its meeting last Thursday in the T.C. Walker Education Center Auditorium.
Due to technical difficulties, the Gloucester County School Board met last Thursday night, instead of the previously scheduled Feb. 8 date, for its monthly meeting in the T.C. Walker Education Center Auditorium.
Several staff members involved in CTE programs spoke at the meeting, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 8 but postponed due to audio and video technical issues.
Gloucester High School assistant principal Jodie Simpson, who oversees CTE, reviewed the many career and technical offerings at the school including, agricultural science, horticulture, culinary arts, cyber security, game design, medical terminology, health careers, nursing assistants, criminal justice, finance, entrepreneurship, computer information system, cosmetology, automotive technology, naval science, architectural drawing, and construction technology.
“I know that a college path may not be for everyone,” said Simpson. “Our Career and Technical Education really does help students maybe find a different path.”
Kyle Davis, Automotive Technology I instructor, spoke about how his students begin at a very basic level of mechanical knowledge and improve their skills throughout the years in the program.
“By the end, our goal is that they can make it to Auto III to be in a position where they can get a job in the field,” said Davis.
Next, the board moved onto recognizing Black History Month.
“To be quite frank, Black history is American history and it takes a lot more than a month to give it the recognition and consideration that it’s due,” said Chuck Wagner, Ed.D., Assistant Schools Superintendent.
Tara Lord, technology teacher at Bethel Elementary School, had her kindergarten through fifth grade students share their hopes and dreams in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
One student’s dream was to help anyone in need and that everyone else would do the same. Another student had a dream that people would learn multiple languages so that they could communicate. One student simply wanted people to be nice to each other.
Lord’s students have also worked on “Scratch” coding projects to learn more about Black history. Students had to choose an important figure in Black history and make a video highlighting their accomplishments.
During public comment, Cathy Phillips of the Abingdon District spoke about Black History Month.
“In the discussion of American history back in the ’80s, it was very clear that it was not complete,” said Phillips. “I am over the moon at watching what Ms. Lord and her project has done to share about Black History Month and the inclusion of all students. I am also very, very pleased to hear that Gloucester schools now have an African American studies class for this semester.”
Masking
Masking and the COVID-19 pandemic were also discussed during Thursday night’s meeting.
“I wanted to start off tonight by thanking the school board for their appropriate discourse and decision on our mask rule change, despite tensions running high on the issue,” said Tyler Bagent, student advisory committee representative. “I know that there have been lots of conflicting viewpoints over the course of the pandemic and the students appreciate that a decision was made in either direction.”
Lisa Jones, the division’s Director of Nursing, updated board members on current COVID-19 numbers at the schools. For Feb. 7-10, there were 29 students and four employees who had tested positive for COVID-19. Though positive cases increased from December to the beginning of January, they began decreasing in mid-January and have continued to decline since.
“I don’t think we need to go back to masking for students,” said Jones. “I think we’re headed in the right direction.”
Also during the meeting, the board was recognized for VSBA School Board Appreciation Month.