News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County School Board will explore the idea of a centralized center where high school students from all three schools could explore career options.
At a weekend board session, Board Members heard how the centralized option would give Monterey and Upperman students more access to programs such as welding, robotics, and culinary arts.
Director of Schools Corby King said it could also provide more room in bulging facilities.
“If we pull 700-800 students out of our high schools right now, we know at our current growth rate in about ten years we’re going to need a new high school,” King said. “That might could delay that an additional five to ten years before we would have to.”
Under ideas currently being discussed, Monterey and Upperman students could be bused to the so-called “Future Ready Center” for half-day blocks. Career & Technical Education Coordinator Jeff Slagle said it is not feasible to bring those students to the center for a 55-minute class.
“They would come 8-11:30, they might take a welding class, a robotics class, and maybe two classes like a science, a math or an English, then we would feed them lunch,” Slagle said.
Students at those two schools would have more access to programs. Monterey is current served by a program in health sciences and IT. Upperman has programs available in supply chain management and nursing.
Slagle said the centralized center would also allow the students to still attend other classes at their home school the other half of the day and they could be more a part of that school’s life outside the classroom. The center would also be seen as a countywide facility instead of sending the students to Cookeville High, for example. King said there is not space to house additional students on the Cookeville campus.
King said the system will explore the lease or purchase of space in Cookeville. King said the system has looked at some warehouse space available.
School board members seemed supportive of exploring the idea. King said he has discussed the idea with County Mayor Randy Porter. He said he would like to discuss the idea with county commissioners.
