District Administration - February 2008 - (Page 24)

BLACKSTONE VALLEY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL DistrictProﬁle The New Face of Vocational School By Kurt O. Dyrli L OCATED IN UPTON, IN THE geographical center of Massachusetts, Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School was founded in 1964 to provide an alternate opportunity for students from 13 towns in its district. Since then, class size has more than doubled, growing to an enrollment of 1,000 students. Organized in an academy style, this career and technical education (CTE) school provides each student with an academic core supplemented by one of 17 vocational programs of their choice. As a national leader in CTE programs, Valley Tech is at the forefront of this evolving sector of public education and actively pursues cooperative relationships with hundreds of area businesses, colleges, unions, and economic development organizations. Valley Tech students learn vocational skills in class and on the job site. prepared for further study, we have transformed our school to meet those needs.” Meeting New Demands Fitzpatrick credits the Valley Tech staﬀ and administrators for fostering a culture of “continual improvement.” For example, all staﬀ members are required to take 60 hours of professional development every An Evolving Education While CTE schools such as Valley Tech have existed for decades, this sector of public education has recently been undergoing a rapid evolution. These schools were originally created largely to provide students with the skills necessary for employment immediately after high school, primarily in the manufacturing industries, at a time when high school was considered suﬃcient for most careers. Today, much more complex, competitive, informationage American industries demand a more highly educated workforce. “There has been a real paradigm shift in our sector of education,” says Michael Fitzpatrick, superintendent-director for the past 14 years. “We are by deﬁnition vocation focused and economy sensitive, and since the needs of industry now require more rigorous academic programs, and now more than ever our students need to be 24 February 2008 Blackstone Valley Regional (Mass.) Vocational Technical High School No. of students: 1,044 No. of teachers: 93 (46 vocational, 47 academic District population: 148,928 Free or reduced lunch: 15.4% Dropout rate: 0.9% Per pupil expenditure: $15,693.53 Superintendent: Michael F. Fitzpatrick Web site: www.valleytech.k12.ma.us year, all non-collective bargaining staﬀ members are signed to performance-based contracts, and teachers have a districtwide performance-based bonus program. Candidates are interviewed by a teacher pool, which makes recommendations to the superintendent. A recent $36 million renovation and expansion project improved the school’s state-of-the-art facilities and earned a “Green School” rating for environmental friendliness. And the school hosts regular “appreciation activities,” including picnics and breakfasts, for everyone from bus drivers to families of new students. As a result of these improvements, Valley Tech has seen a substantial increase in the number of applicants from its district. Over 600 students now apply annually, while the school can accommodate a maximum of 300 for an incoming class. The state-approved admissions process is therefore thorough and selective. Administrators examine applicants’ K8 grades, attendance, behavior, and guidance counselor assessments, and then they inter- District Administration http://www.valleytech.k12.ma.us

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - February 2008

District Administration - February 2008
Contents
Editor’s Letter
Letters
News Update
Technology Update
Security Update
Virtual Schools Update
Curriculum Update
Inside the Law
District Profile
The “Other” Advanced Program
State of the Superintendency
Landing the Chief
Purchasing Security Products and Services
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Speaking Out
Professional Opinion
Supervisor’s Opinion
Overheard on the Pulse
New Products
Problem Solution
Computer Literature
Research Corner
Calendar of Events
Products Showcase
Understanding the Times

District Administration - February 2008