KENT—Board of Education Chairman Jennifer Duncan has reported to her board about an Introduction to College and Career Acceleration Program that will provide Region 1 high school students with the opportunity to earn Associate of Arts degrees or career certifications while still in high school.
“They will still be students at HVHRS, but will take courses at different community colleges,” Duncan said at a Jan. 10 meeting.
Areas of study include manufacturing and engineering, early childhood education and emergency management.
The program begins in the fall.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students, who maybe will or will not go on to [a four-year] college,” Duncan said. “I think a lot of people wonder if it will conflict or compete with Oliver Wolcott, but it is meant to be very different from that. You don’t walk away from Oliver Wolcott with an Associate’s degree.”
Superintendent of Schools Lisa Carter said students will study to the degree possible at HVHRS, but that transportation to and from other campuses will be provided by the state. “It’s all funded through the state and by grants,” she said. “It’s very exciting.”
Duncan, the town’s representative on the Region 1 school board, said it approved the next round of international travel for Housy students during a Jan. 9 meeting. 2024-25 journeys will take participants on two excursions: to Italy, Switzerland and Germany, and on a second trip to Thailand.
The local board approved tuition waivers for three Kent Center School teachers, Brittany Barrett, Michelle Decker and Marci Saunders, who will enroll their children there for the next school year. The waivers allow six students to join a school population that currently numbers 195.
Former Board of Education Chairman Scott Trabucco received the thanks of his former colleagues and Duncan said the Democratic and Republican town committees will be asked to suggest candidates to fill the vacancy created by his resignation.
“My hope is that by February we will have heard back from both committees,” she said.
Carter, who is stepping down as Region 1 superintendent, said that Mary Broderick of CABE was selected from a pool of three consulting groups to lead the superintendent search. She has successfully worked with Region 1 in previous searches. Selection of a candidate is expected in the spring.
