MMA coming to Cut Off Youth Center
July 22, 2015
BREAKING: Alleged gunman killed by officers
July 27, 2015
Whether they want to be a scientist, welder, nurse, carpenter or teacher, high school students in Lafourche Parish will be able to explore a variety of career options when the parish’s Career Magnet Center opens its doors at the beginning of the school year.
The new center, located on La. Highway 308 in Lockport, has been 10 years in the making, according to principal Tim Long.
Its opening represents an opportunity for students to earn as much post-secondary credit as possible, while they are high school juniors and seniors. They can take career classes, such as in cosmetology or oil and gas production. Or they can take advanced placement classes for college courses like chemistry or physics. Some of the classes will be dual enrolled, which means while they are taking a class at the Career Magnet Center, the students may earn college or trade school credit.
“Our students will be able to jump into college with some courses under their belts or with work skills that they can take directly into the workforce,” said JoAnn Matthews, superintendent of Lafourche Parish Schools.
“I am extremely excited about the opening and very happy that we can finally offer high level advanced placement classes to our students and high level vocational programs, and a variety of vocational programs, at that,” Long said. Among the curriculum at the Career Magnet Center are programs like culinary, welding, automotive and advanced courses in physics and chemistry.
The carpentry program, he said, is the only one like it in the district and the oil and gas production program is also unique and the only one offered in the parish.
“What we’ve been able to do is increase opportunities for our students, making sure they are productive and have opportunities when they leave high school,” Matthews said. “We can train them and have them ready to serve our parish and help it grow.”
The center will offer morning and afternoon sessions. Some students may be able to graduate from high school with credits toward a license or certification.
The center will also offer courses in line with the state’s Jump Start Career Education program, which Long says is the state’s option for a career diploma. Once Jump Start is fully implemented, the students must follow a set curriculum and they must pass an industry-specific test for their area of study.
For instance, he said, students who finish the welding program must pass the welding level one test. Students who follow the culinary curriculum must pass the ProStrart test. There is also the STAR program, where students who are interested in education can earn credit and get practical experience.
Students will attend one of the three parish high schools for part of the day and take three periods at the center. However, Long said the students who come to the center must meet the basic criteria.
“They must have a C average and have good discipline and attendance records,” he said.
Transportation is provided for the students to get to and from the career center, or with parental permission, they may drive themselves.
Lafourche has had the diploma options for a while, Long said, but now all the programs are centralized in one location. He said the advanced chemistry courses, once held at Central Lafourche, will now be offered at the Career Magnet Center. Students can dually enroll in the public school and Nicholls State University and earn credit for freshman chemistry.
Even if the students are not dually enrolled, he said, they can take College Board Advanced Placement tests, which are accepted by colleges around the country.
“Every chance we could, we sought dual enrollment agreements and we have agreements with South Louisiana Community College, Fletcher Community College, Nicholls State University and Blue Cliff College,” Long said.
He said already more than 300 students have scheduled classes at all new facility.
“The center can handle up to 500 students,” Long said. “Everything about this place is brand-new. It’s a wonderful facility, 57,000 square feet of shop and classroom space, that offers a tremendous opportunity for students to explore various career pathways.
“We’re still fixing a few things, getting everything ready for when the teachers report to work on Aug. 5,” he added. “We are still getting our classrooms ready, moving in equipment and waxing the floors.”
Long said he realizes that during the first year of operation, there may be things that need to be tweaked.
The Career Magnet Center has received donations and grants from companies like Chevron, Shell and from the Bayou Community Fund. “We have a donor wall,” he said. In some instances, he said, the companies have offered partnerships and expertise.
Matthews said the new facility is the district’s “flagship,” and it represents the district’s desire to address the needs and wants of the community. “We are here to meet those needs, whatever it takes.”
