|
Voters approved Career Tech Center
White Lake Beacon, September 30, 2002
For more articles on disabilities and special ed visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
Now the work begins.
Voters last week approved a Career Tech initiative that would
provide vocational training for up to 1,000 juniors and
seniors from school districts in Muskegon County.
Voters approved the measure 7,287 yes to 5,313 no in a special
election Tuesday, Sept. 24.
According to a press release issued by the Muskegon Area
Intermediate School District (MAISD), a Career Tech Center has
been an unmet need in the Muskegon area for many years. The
release noted that the surrounding counties of Kent, Ottawa,
Newaygo and Mason-Lake established centers supported by an ISD
millage in the 1970s and 1980s.
"This has been a project on the drawing board of this
community for many years," said Dr. Michael Bozym MAISD
superintendent. "The success of this proposal is a result of
the many people who worked so hard to inform the public about
its benefits. Most of all it is a tribute to our students and
to our future as a community."
The measure was carried overwhelmingly in districts like
Muskegon, Reeths-Puffer and Mona Shores. Outlying districts
were less enthusiastic as the proposal failed to gain support
among voters in the districts of Fruitport, Oakridge, Ravenna
and Orchard View.
In a telephone interview last Wednesday Dr. Bozym said he was
ecstatic over the successful election and that preparation is
already underway to open some programs in fall, 2003.
"It was encouraging to see that in the White Lake area,
Montague, Whitehall and Reeths-Puffer voters all were
supportive of the proposal," he said. "We began this proposal
with a coalition of educators, the community college and
business and industry leaders. We intend to move forward with
that same coalition as we work to put opportunities in place
that will allow our students to develop skills that could, for
some, lead to apprenticeships in the skilled trades."
Bozym said about nine programs will be available for students
in 2003 in existing and expanded facilities at Muskegon
Community College. About 10 new classrooms are to be added to
help accommodate 22 Career Tech program options.
The vote, by district, was as follows:
District Yes No
Fruitport 588 595
Holton 147 118
Mona Shores 1869 1246
Montague 388 245
Muskegon 1436 922
Muskegon Hts. 98 46
N. Muskegon 615 224
Oakridge 153 281
Orchard View 268 293
Ravenna 166 212
Reeths-Puffer 1083 704
Whitehall 476 427
|
