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School completes vo-tech survey<br>

Grand Canyon School superintendent Sheila Breen said the findings support the school’s long-term plan to bolster the school’s vocational offerings.

Currently the school has about 40 students enrolled in its two career-training programs – culinary arts and business and technology. Culinary arts students receive a vocational certificate, but because the business and technology program lost an instructor, that program isn’t certified under CAVIAT.

“We’re still teaching business and technology outside the vocational program,” said Breen. “We’re looking at expanding that through the program and getting extra funding.”

Grand Canyon School received almost $45,000 from CAVIAT last year based on current enrollment.

As far as new programs, construction trades received the most votes – 22 out of 93 respondents. Other programs favored by students include computer technology (16 votes) and auto technology (13 votes). Hospitality management garnered seven votes, while other offerings such as child development, engineering and medical vocations earned three or fewer votes each.

Breen said respondents were also asked what type of student-run business they’d most like to see on campus. Of the 125 who responded, 56 favored a coffee shop-bakery type operation. The second most popular choice was a non-food shop selling such things as Phantoms merchandise, books, flowers or student-made items.

On the existing program, faculty members gave lower marks than did other respondents, with community members rating the program most favorably.

Phil Blais, superintendent of the Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry and Technology (CAVIAT), said the faculty’s perception is probably nearer to the reality.

“The staff would have more insight,” he said.

While 70 percent of the community members and 57 percent of the students agreed or strongly agreed and 38 percent of parents agreed that current class offerings in career and technology education are adequate, none of the faculty did. Half of the staff disagreed and the other half strongly disagreed.

Again, 70 percent of the community, 87 percent of the parents and 63 percent of the students agreed or strongly agreed that current classes offer skills that will be helpful in preparing for a career. Meanwhile, 63 percent of the staff agreed or disagreed and 38 percent agreed. None strongly agreed.

Eighty percent of the community members surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that the current programs have updated equipment, as did 75 percent of parents, 63 percent of the staff and 46 percent of students.

None of the respondents strongly agreed that there are adequate supplies for career and technology classes. Agreeing with the statement were 67 percent of community respondents, 53 percent of the parents surveyed, 38 percent of the staff, and 45 percent of the students.

All of the faculty agreed or strongly agreed that the school should make a business/technology program available for students, as did 92 percent of the community, 90 percent of the parents, and 86 percent of the students.

Agreeing or strongly agreeing that they would support a student-run, for-profit business were 59 percent of the community respondents, 76 percents of the parents, 100 percent of the faculty and 77 percent of the students.

Any changes resulting from the survey would been seen next fall at the earliest, said Breen, and possibly later. Along with increased business and technology offerings, she said she’s also discussing the possibility, with CAVIAT and Coconino County Community College, of offering cosmetology classes through the college’s distance learning program, limiting travel to Flagstaff for the hands-on requirements only.

“We’re probably looking at a year out,” said Breen. “For a student-run business, if we want to have it on campus, it could be next year, but if we have it in Tusayan, it could take longer."


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