Utica Shale Academy hosts open house

SALINEVILLE -- The Utica Shale Academy opened its doors at the Salineville campus to show prospective students what it has to offer.

Officials spotlighted its newly added Williams Collaboration Center during an open house on May 9, as well as its other buildings. Teens and their families had a chance to peruse the four-story building at 10 E. Main St., which will house seventh- and eighth-grade classes and health facilities, and learn how it will accommodate the underclassmen. Leaders said the school was dedicated to re-engaging at-risk students through a tailored educational approach that addresses their individual needs, capitalizes on their strengths and prepares them for future careers. They also touted the comprehensive support systems with personalized support team and a safe and supportive atmosphere; career preparation and certification with industry-recognized credentials and career readiness; targeted educational programs with customized learning and an integrated curriculum; and community and continuous improvement with community engagement and ongoing assessment.

Superintendent Bill Watson said the goal of the open house was to introduce interested youth to the programs and explain the hands-on lessons that USA provides.

"If students are interested in attending, we wanted them to come and see what we're all about," Watson said. "If they don't want to go to college, they can be good at a trade and have an opportunity to see all of the facilities."

Enrollment is currently underway and will continue through the summer, and for now about a dozen middle schoolers have applied while he's had conversations with individuals from Crestview, Southern Local and Edison Local school districts.

"Our anticipation is about 25-30 for the first year and to go from there," Watson added, saying that transportation will be provided.

Those who caught a glimpse of the Williams Center learned the lower level would lodge a conference area and dining section for breakfast and lunch; the first floor would possibly house medical services for students and the public; the second floor would include a classroom, career-tech classroom and intervention area for the junior high, as well as certified health workers from Compass 247, Avis Drug-Free World and Alta, the latter with licensed therapeutic behavior support counselors; and the fourth floor would lodge administrative offices.

Dean of Students Carter Hill led one family and said the junior high could accommodate up to 65-70 students and they would utilize online and hands-on programs. Online general education courses would be provided by the Virtual Learning Academy through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center.

"They will be doing the typical core classes through VLA and career tech earns NC3 (National Coalition of Certification Centers) certifications with introduction and safety courses," Hill added. "They are exploring what they want to do and their goals in the introductory courses and will build a portfolio. At the high school level, they can delve deeper into the programs."

Tours were also conducted of the Energy Training Center, Hutson Building and outdoor welding lab, which are also located on East Main Street. Those facilities include courses for grades 9-12 and include megatronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, AC/DC electric, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC's), diesel mechanics and horticulture to train both students and adults. Additionally, the campus includes the Utica Shale Academy Community Center on Church Street that features a gym and community services.

Current and prospective students were on hand and agreed the programs at Utica Shale Academy were very beneficial with hands-on opportunities.

Senior Liz McFarland, of Salem, said she was interested in welding and USA was helping her line up her future in the field.

"I plan on going into that field," she said. "I really want to get into underwater welding. I feel like [the school] definitely preparing me and they treat me not as a student, but as an adult too."

She and fellow senior Rebekah Fleischman, as well as sophomore Braxton Willis, offered advice to incoming students.

"Don't give up," McFarland added. "If you push for a higher choice, they'll push for a higher choice with you."

"Believe in yourself," noted Fleischman, who hails from Lisbon and also plans to become a welder. "I wanted an opportunity to do something different."

"Be yourself," commented Willis, who resides in Salineville and is also pursuing a welding career. "I was interested in the Utica Shale Academy programs."

Freshman Preston Weyand, of East Liverpool, said he was also eying the welding program at USA.

"It seems like a good school as a whole," he said.

USA, which has operated for the past decade, is a dropout recovery-and-retention school focusing on career-tech education for at-risk students who have obtained more than 1,100 certifications since 2021. The program currently includes 190 pupils in grades 9-12 and the expansion could potentially triple enrollment to about 350 pupils. About 51 students are set to graduate from the latest senior class and commencement exercises are slated for May 28 at 6 p.m. at Southern Local High School. For more information, contact 330-932-9997 or go online to www.uticashaleschool.com.