By WENDY HATOUMThe Colchester Sun (February 5, 2009)
Though the Colchester School Board recently decided to end its school choice agreement with the town of
Essex, Colchester High School students still have the option of pursuing a technical education at both the Center for Technology, Essex and the Burlington Technical Center at Burlington High School.
While many of the two centers’ technical programs overlap, such as professional foods, construction, automotive and child care programs, some are unique to each school. These include CTE’s dental assisting training and Burlington Tech’s aviation maintenance program and its criminal justice program, which was introduced in 2007.
The FAA-approved aviation program, offers students 492 hours of training, which count toward FAA certification (with a 1,900-hour total requirement). After completing their high school training, students can go on to a post secondary program at the airport to complete an air frame and power plant technician certification, also offered by Burlington Tech, according to director Mark Aliquo.
Burlington Tech’s criminal justice program is headed by Colchester resident Dave Scibek, a 20-year veteran of the Burlington Police Department and chief of the Malletts Bay Fire Department. The program has expanded from one year to two, and offers beginning training in law enforcement. “It’s a rigorous program, with many of these students going on to college,” said Aliquo. Sandy Simonds, guidance coordinator of Burlington Tech visited Colchester High School this week, letting students know of the school’s offerings. Those students with a strong interest in the programs can investigate them further through a visit to Burlington Tech.
“We have high school students ride the bus in with the tech students, and select two programs of interest,” Aliquo said.
Students spend about two hours learning more about the programs of interest. Colchester students’ next scheduled visit is Feb. 11 and 12.
Those interested in learning more about the Center for Technology, Essex can attend its open house Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. High school students and adult learners can talk with CTE staff, students, area employers, Vermont State Assistance Corp. (VSAC) advisors and college representatives, and take a tour of the 15 programs offered at the Technical Center. In addition to its more well- known offerings, CTE has programs in the arts, computers and medical technology, including health informatics, training in dental and opthamalic assisting, as well as graphic design with digital publishing, web design and computer animation.
According to Karen Archer, adult services coordinator for CTE, the program is not just limited to high school students. “Adults with a GED or without a high school diploma can enroll as a high school student, and receive credit through their sending program,” Archer said. “Adults with a high school diploma can attend on a space-available basis.”
The school serves students primarily in the Chittenden County area, but students can come from other areas if a program isn’t offered in their region.
“Dental assisting is available to anyone in the state,” said Archer, explaining that CTE is the only technical center that offers the program to high school students in Vermont.
Students at both Burlington Tech and CTE receive technical training and hands-on work experience, and can also earn college credit during their high school studies. CTE’s Shannon Edmonds, a senior from South Burlington, has already worked in web support at the University of Vermont in the course of her studies.
This semester she hopes to develop web password technology for a local private school’s web site.
Edmonds has developed a computer portfolio she can use for applying to colleges, as well as a two dimensional portfolio from a course she took in design at Community College of Vermont as part of her studies at CTE.
CTE also offers training specifically geared to adults in its SkillTech program. Courses include offerings in CAD, small engine prep certification, machine tool technology, refrigeration and electrician preparation, among others. Many of these courses prepare enrollees for specific professional certifications.
In the 2007-08 school year, Colchester High School sent 51 students to the technical program in Essex; 31 Colchester students are attending Burlington Technical Center and 56 are at Essex in the 2008/2009 school year. If you would like to learn more about CTE’s offerings, you can call the school at 879-5558 or visit its website at www.gocte.org. The Center for Technology, Essex is located at 3 Educational Drive in Essex Junction, next to Essex High School.
You can get more information about Burlington Technical Center by calling 864-8431, or on the web at burlingtontech.org.
CAPTION: Kyle Goodrich, a senior in CTE’s automotive program, explains how current travels through the circuit board he designed in class. PHOTO BY WENDY HATOUM
