GORDON JAMES CAREER CENTER School's out -- for good

The center will close today after 25 years.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Joyce Vasko cleans out her cosmetology classroom at the Gordon James Career Center like she's done at the end of each of the past 18 school years.
But this time, she and the other career center teachers won't be coming back in the fall.
When the doors lock at the end of the school day today, it will end 25 years of career and technical education at the facility.
"It's very sad," Vasko said. "It's a wonderful little school."
The career center provided vocational and technical education to junior and senior high school students from Lordstown, Niles, Howland, McDonald and Weathersfield high schools.
The problem
The five districts were unable to reach agreement on a new contract. Lordstown, Niles, Weathersfield and McDonald school districts are sending their students to the Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Champion. Howland students will go to Ashtabula County's Joint Vocational School.
TCTC is leasing the James building from Lordstown to house its adult vocational classes.
Vasko, who had planned to work for a few more years, must take early retirement.
"I'll miss all of my friends," she said, sitting in the classroom wallpapered in 1984 by her first class. "It's really a small, tight-knit school, and we're more like a family. A lot of us have been here a long time."
Student Chris Flynn, who is studying information services and support, looks forward to attending TCTC in the fall.
"It will open more opportunities and more doors for jobs," said Chris, who is a Lordstown student.
Michael Johnson, a junior from Howland, plans to transfer to Niles next year so he can go to TCTC. He doesn't want to go to the Ashtabula JVS, where the Howland district has opted to send students.
Tammie McGlynn, a junior from Girard, plans to attend Girard High School next year. The information services and support student doesn't want to change schools. She used to go to McDonald schools and has been attending the James Center through open enrollment.
"It's very disappointing," Tammie said. "I know all of the teachers here, even the ones I don't have in class. They all care about you. I just don't know if at TCTC we'll get that same attention."
Out of jobs
Paula Baco has been teaching English at the center for about a year. She's waiting for official word of her hire by another area school district. Her certification in English allows her more flexibility to be hired by another school district, but she worries about her colleagues in the technical and vocational fields.
"I'm sad for them," Baco said. "I worry about some of them finding employment because they're locked in their vocation."
Jon Kvale, who's been teaching electronic and networking systems at the center for four years, isn't concerned about his future. He's waiting to hear from a few area schools but may opt to go back into the industry to update his skills.
He'd like to go back to school and then teach at the college level, he said.
Kvale says he's not worried about the loss of his job and thinks he'll land on his feet.
Vasko, the veteran teacher, said she doesn't think the reality of the closing has sunk in for many of her colleagues. She thinks that will happen today, when they all leave their classrooms for the last time.
"It's going to be a sad day," Vasko said.
dick@vindy.com