TCTC surpasses benchmarks for work-force development

STAFF REPORT

CHAMPION — For the first time in its history, the Trumbull Career and Technical Center has either met or exceeded work-force development requirements set by the state.

Karen Johnson, secondary director, told the TCTC Board of Education on Thursday that the school has met or improved upon state benchmarks in reading, math and student graduation. The standards are based on the Ohio Graduation Tests, which students must pass to earn their diploma.

Johnson said that in reading and language arts, TCTC student scores were at nearly 88 percent, almost 3 percent above the state benchmark. In mathematics, students scored 4 percent above the state standard.

Johnson said the school excelled with a nearly 99 percent graduation rate. By contrast, the state benchmark is 73.6 percent, a figure the educator called “ridiculously low.”

Johnson said in previous tests, scores of students with disabilities were excluded, but were included this year.

“That makes these scores even more of an accomplishment when you consider that they include those students with disabilities,” Johnson said.

The director said this is the first year of a five-year testing program and she expects the standards and benchmarks to be raised each year.

In another item, the board recognized the achievements of student Dan Filipcich of Niles, a senior studying to be a paramedic. He was honored for outstanding educational initiative by writing to numerous companies asking for donations of equipment for the Public Safety Program, which trains future paramedics, police and firefighters. Larry Crawford, TCTC academic supervisor, said a company in California responded to Filipcich’s appeal and donated 13 high-visibility safety vests valued at more than $500.