Trending
LISBON - The adult education nursing program took center stage at the Columbiana County Career Center Board's March meeting, as Dr. Kelly Darney announced the nursing program exceeded the national average provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) when it came to test scores.
"The NCSBN handles the data from every state in the union from first-time testing. We got our RN and our LPN numbers, as far as our RN numbers, in 2022 we graduated 31 people and our percentage pass rate was 85.7," said Darney. "If you slip below the national average then the Ohio Board of Nursing is going to make you do a remediation plan and say what you are going to change and the national average was 79. By comparison, Eastern Gateway had a 76, Ehove got a 74, Knox got 66 and Kent Salem got 79, so I was really pleased with our scores."
Darney was equally as pleased with the LPN numbers. CCTCC had 46 graduates and got an 80 percent - four percent higher than the national average of 76.
The board also welcomed the center's Social Studies department and heard from Masten Ferrier and James Bielik. Both teachers shared with the board their approach to teaching that fosters their students' creativity and allows knowledge to be absorbed through those creative avenues.
"What I have been doing for a number of years with my students is to think more and write less," said Ferrier. "With many of the activities we do, we look for ways the students can use their creativity."
That includes combining creativity and technology in the classroom as the students learn work skills along the way.
"I like to integrate technology everyday in the classroom," Bielik added. "Sometimes, as adults I think we fall into the trap of assuming that every child is proficient in technology. Now they may be able to Tik Tok, play games and watch videos on YouTube but they don't have the soft skills that they need when they graduate for their careers. Students are learning to do basic stuff that they are going to need and use in their careers - emails, how to organize files, the way you complete word processing - and furthering those skills through powerpoint and things like that."
In business matters, the board approved the February operating bills of $782,314.85, the February 2023 Financial Statement in the amount of $9,112,752.25 and the tax rates for the 2024 school year. The board also approved enrollment into the Sheakley 2024 Workers' Compensation Group Rating Program for a projected savings of $2443, the National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant in the amount of $27,382.24, payment of $3,102.00 to VIPRE Security for a previous invoice and accepted the treasurer's appropriation, cash reconciliation, investment and revenue reports.
The board also addressed several personnel matters and approved the contracts of administrators Sue Allison (Student Services), Kevin Clark (Adult Education Student Services), Darney (Adult Education), Emily Deack (Adult Education Nursing), Jacki Fieldhouse (Adult Education Nursing) and Ryan Hawks (Building and Grounds). The board also approved the employment of seasonal employees Stephanie Coie, Patricia Dailey, Sarah Foley and J.R. Straley as well as the employment of Frances Shaw as a substitute and adult education instructors Keli Jones, Rebecca Freeman. Smantha Mathess, Leslie Brode and Cathy Hofmeister.
In other matters, the board approved the academic calendar for the 2023-2024 school year and accepted a donation from Strollo Architects, Inc. of $1,000 for the Drug Free Team.
selverd@mojonews.com