Julie Goodman, mother to Ohio Hi-Point student Carly Goodman, speaks to the board of education about the 1 by 1 program her daughter is participating in this semester. Also pictured is Justin Rigsby, standing at the right, the new career tech supervisor. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
For Ohio Hi-Point (OHP) Career Center senior Carly Goodman, the school’s new 1 by 1 program has been, in the words of her mother, Julie Goodman, “invaluable” and a “phenomenal” experience. With that in mind, Julie attended the regular OHP board of education meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15, to promote this small but growing opportunity.
Carly, who attends OHP’s graphic and media arts academy, couldn’t attend the meeting due to illness, but her mom was there to share Carly’s experience with the board.
“She’s in it, she’s doing it, and she really enjoys it,” Julie said. “This has helped her gain confidence and learn time management.”
Justin Rigsby, the new career tech supervisor at OHP, was also at the meeting to promote 1 by 1. The title refers to the participants’ schedule, which alternates a week of school with a week at their job, giving them an every-other-week experience.
Carly spends her work weeks at Miller Graphics in Huntsville. Her job there has included designing T-shirts for seniors on the cross country team, which led to compliments from the people she worked with.
Currently, eight OHP students are participating in 1 by 1, but they anticipate seeing the number grow as students learn more about it.
“We were hoping to have 20,” Dr. Rick Smith, school superintendent, said, “but students were hesitant.”
Now that the program has proven a success, Smith and Rigsby estimate having as many as 30 students by fall 2024.
The program currently requires students to be seniors who only still need English and math credits. During his report, Brad Richardson, career tech assistant superintendent, shared that many students participated in the Champaign County Design Challenge, which he called a “good experience.”
Friday, Nov. 10, the center held a school-wide interview contest with 35 businesses attending. The event allowed students to practice their interview skills and network, and they “received good feedback on interview techniques.”
Career Tech Student Organizations will begin preparing for regional competitions after the Thanksgiving break.
Instructor Heather Smith has been working with students who want to earn lifeguard certification. In partnership with the Hilliker YMCA, Smith has finished with one group and has started training a second one. Richardson said the students are “excited to use that certification for summer jobs and to help their communities.”
In financial matters, Treasurer Caleb Lang said though the school has dealt with check fraud in the past, they came across something new last week.
“I saw a name on a check that didn’t look familiar,” Lang told the board. “This was a case of check washing—they got one of our actual checks, washed off the payee name, inserted their own and cashed it.”
Though it cleared, the school was able to reject it and it was returned.
“We have several checks in place to keep this from happening and, thankfully, it worked,” Lang concluded.
In other board action Wednesday:
• The OHP board started the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims of the deadly Interstate 70 multi-vehicle crash on Tuesday, Nov. 14. One of the chaperones, Shannon Wigfield, was a language arts teacher at Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
• November 2023 main campus Students of the Month are Brielle Cotterman, exercise science, Upper Scioto Valley High School; and Alyson Swinehart, cosmetology, Marysville High School.
• Administrative staff offices will be moved into the old cosmetology building while their office space on the hill is renovated. Once that construction is done, they’ll move back and the old cosmetology building will be renovated for use by Clark State.
• Approved internship agreements with: Delaware County Historical Society (Delaware), J and J Rice Farms (West Mansfield), Johnson Genetics (Marysville), Reliant Mechanical (East Liberty) and Retreat 21 (Marysville).
• Revised policies, including: conflict of interest, employment of personnel for co-curricular/extra-curricular activities, tuition reimbursement, immunization, use of medications, Fair Labor Standards Act, facility security, volunteers, school calendar, student records, wellness, transportation by school van, public attendance at school events; approved new policies for care of students with active seizure disorders and the board of revision complaints and countercomplaints; and a replacement policy for the procurement and use of Naloxone (Narcan) in emergency situations.
The OHP board and administration Christmas dinner will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m., and will be followed by the regular board of education meeting at 7 p.m.