Career tech funds in doubt

Hundreds of students at Oak Harbor High School take career and technical classes for hands-on education. Some of those classes lead to internships and good-paying jobs.

The program could take a big hit in another year if the school district loses significant grant funding.

The Carl Perkins Vocational Grant, a federal program that benefits career and technical programs at high schools and community colleges, is set to be cut from a version of a proposed federal budget.

The Oak Harbor School District receives between $48,000 and $52,000 a year from the grant. That money funds equipment upgrades for the various programs.

“It supplies all the equipment purchases for our career and tech labs,” said Cynthia Shelton, director of career and technical programs at the Oak Harbor School District. She is currently completing the grant application for next year.

The school district is applying for $48,871 worth of funding from the grant program.

Shelton said the money would pay for new equipment for the business computer lab. The new computers would replace old equipment. She is applying to receive the money for the 2006 fiscal year.

Without the equipment money, Shelton said she doesn’t know how the school will maintain the quality of the program.

Oak Harbor High School’s career and vocational education program provides students with the basic skills that easily transfer into the workplace.

Students have taken foundation courses in such areas as computer-aided drafting, auto shop, culinary arts, business and video production. The classes lay the foundation for future internships in local businesses throughout the community. Some Oak Harbor students have interned for the city of Oak Harbor and Fleet Imaging at the Navy base, for example.

Skagit Valley College also receives significant support from the grant funding. The college, which has branches on Whidbey Island, averages $340,000 in funding per year.

SVC uses the Perkins money for disability support services, high school articulation, basic skills services and program development, said Arden Ainley, public information director for Skagit Valley College.

She said reduced funding would mean a reduction in service. Among Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges, 31 of them received fewer dollars this year. If the money is cut, then the college would have to find the money from other sources which would effect other services, Ainley said.

Shelton said the grant money is slated for elimination because the money instead go to funding assessments required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Congress has not made a final decision on the controversy.