Lower Lake, CA
Excerpted from an Article by Elizabeth Larson
www.lakeconews.com
The Konocti Unified School District is among the first recipients of a new state grant that seeks to link education and careers, with the district planning to use the funds to set up the first magnet high school in Lake County.
The California Department of Education announced the Career Pathway Trust Grant winners, which along with Konocti, includes forty consortia representing hundreds of thousands of California students.
Jeff Dixon, administrator on special assignment for Konocti Unified who wrote the grant application, said the district received a five-year $1.2 million grant to create a health based education program for students in grades 9 – 12 at the district’s new Medical Magnet High School.
“We are tremendously excited to be able to provide this opportunity for our students and our community,” Dixon said.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson reported that state officials received 123 eligible applications containing about $709 million in requested grant funds, nearly triple the $250 million in available funding. Applicants included community college districts, county offices of education, direct-funded charter schools, and school districts, the state reported.
“To make good on our goal of a world-class education for every California student, they have to graduate with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the real world,” said Tom Torlakson. “By demonstrating the relevance of students’ education, these programs not only encourage kids to stay in school, but also combine the rigorous academics and practical experience employers say they need.”
Regarding Konocti Unified’s plans, Dixon said, “We are expanding our health occupations pathway and developing a health occupations magnet high school,” adding there is no such program currently in Lake County. Dixon said the magnet high school will focus on preparing students for college and careers in the health and medical industry.
Students will initially take regular core academic classes like English and math at Lower Lake High School, then go to the magnet high school for medical-related classes in what Dixon said will be a college-style education.
“Lake County ranks last, or near last, in almost every health statistic area and there’s a huge need not only to develop health occupations but also in developing a healthy community,” Dixon said.
The district already has active partnerships with the local health care industry, including St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Over the last few years, our students have actively been volunteering at Sutter Lakeside in Lakeport,” Dixon said. “This opportunity will give us the impetus to expand our partnerships by including additional medical facilities and post-secondary institutions.”
In addition to working in a traditional medical field, many other occupations – sports medicine, nutrition, physical therapy – have a health care component, giving the students who go through the pathway many options, Dixon said. Ideally, students who complete the health education pathway would receive some kind of certification.
The district’s plans include having the magnet high school be self-sustaining after five years.
Dixon said, “We will need assistance from local medical providers in the form of guest speakers, job shadowing opportunities, student internships, and opportunities to learn about equipment.” “I think this new program is going to have a lot of ramifications beyond just what’s happening with our students in the school.”
Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg spearheaded the creation of the California Career Pathways Trust in 2014, establishing a one-time $250 million competitive grant program in the state’s 2013 – c2014 budget, the California Department of Education reported.
Grant recipients are tasked with creating sustained career pathway programs that connect businesses, K-12 schools and community colleges to better prepare students for the 21st century workplace.
Under Torlakson, the California Department of Education administers the program, soliciting and identifying the strongest applications based on a rigorous evaluation process carried out by the CDE and its state partners, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Workforce Investment Board.
For additional information, please contact Jeff Dixon, , (707) 994-6447, Ext. 2914.