CHAMPION Career center weighs need for space

Other spaces were converted to classrooms to accommodate programs.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- New programs and changing requirements have pushed Trumbull Career and Technical Center to capacity this year.
"We're full," said Wayne McClain, TCTC superintendent. "If we were to add additional programs, I'm not sure what we would do."
The full load is attributed to more programs rather than increased enrollment. There are 921 students enrolled in TCTC programs compared with 949 at this time last year. The center employs 87 instructors.
Students from 19 of Trumbull County's 20 school districts attend TCTC. Howland sends its students to the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School.
The school had to turn some other spaces into classrooms to accommodate classes, McClain said.
Programs added
Two programs, environmental biotechnology and career pathways to the teaching profession, were added this year. The environmental biotechnology tech prep program moved this school year from Warren G. Harding.
Another program, precision machining, was cut for the year because not enough students signed up to participate.
Gary Hoffman, TCTC director, said six units of honors English, three for juniors and three for seniors, also were added. Core math and core science courses and a special education teacher are also new this year.
"We have more and more of our students who are taking their academic classes here," Hoffman.
More students used to take their academic programs at their home school and the career or technical courses at TCTC.
"We've really become a complete school that has career and technical programs too," Hoffman said.
He said that evolution is part of the federal High Schools That Work program that establishes standards for schools to adopt. TCTC gets about $15,000 annually from the program, which is mostly earmarked for professional development to keep staff members' skills current.
Need for space
"I've said that if we have more students next year we may have to have portable classrooms," McClain said.
Last school year, TCTC began leasing the former Gordon D. James Career Center in Lordstown when that center closed. TCTC uses it for its adult programs that previously were housed at the Champion campus.
The school also added new science labs last year to accommodate higher-level science classes like chemistry, anatomy and physics.
Several years ago, the state changed the rules making academic requirements at career and technical centers the same as at other high schools.
denise.dick@vindy.com