By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Preparing high school students for life skills, not just college, is one goal of Hays CISD’s new proposed course offerings in cosmetology, welding, bio-medical and culinary arts.
The push is, in part, a result of Texas House Bill 5, which allows high school students to earn a “performance acknowledgment” for earning a recognized business or industry certification or license.
But even before HB 5, one of the superintendent’s goals was to develop a plan to increase industry certifications earned by students in Career and Technology Education (CTE) courses.
Beginning next fall, the district plans to run cosmetology programs at both Hays and Lehman high schools. In addition, the district will offer expanded welding and bio-medical courses, which will be at both campuses as well.
At top: Teacher Ryan Georgi, center, and several of his Lehman High School Culinary Arts program students work together to prepare meatloaf for a cheerleader dinner later in the day. Georgi, as he’s known to most people, said his students have to be problem-solvers and learn to make decisions under pressure. He also teaches them to be serious and professional about what they’re doing. (Photo by Kim Hilsenbeck) |
Hays High School will also offer a culinary arts course similar to Lehman’s existing program.
Suzi Mitchell, the district’s career and technical education director, who started last February, said a cosmetology course is available now, but it is extremely limited.
“We currently work with Total Transformations Beauty School in San Marcos,” she said. “But they charge almost $8,000 in tuition.”
It’s $7,557 to be exact. Plus, only two students can take the class per year.
Mitchell said the new in-house programs will allow 50 students per campus each year. The cost? The total for the two-year program is $600, or $300 per year, which covers all licensing and permits, textbooks and kits.
“And if they graduate and get their cosmetology license, we will reimburse them $300,” she said.
The reimbursement money, according to Mitchell, will come from what she called salon nights. While the details are not set, she said the plan is two nights a week from 4-7 p.m., students will offer salon services at a nominal cost to the public.
“We’ll put that money in a fund and once they get their license, we’ll give the students back $300 from that fund,” Mitchell said.
The only potential glitch in the plan now is whether or not the funding for the two new cosmetology programs comes through. In fact, two other expanded course offerings, welding and bio-medical training, are also subject to the same potential glitch.
Mitchell explained.
“These programs are part of the bond election package that may be decided in May,” she said.
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees are set to vote next Monday on whether to call the $59.3 million bond election in May. The bond would include a new middle school, new buses, safety improvements, technology upgrades and items such as remodeling and purchasing new equipment for the vocational course offerings.
If it doesn’t pass?
She stopped short of saying that would be a problem, but acknowledged that the new programs are highly dependent on funds from the bond.
The total for the line item under career and technical education is nearly $1.9 million. Remodeling at the two campuses for cosmetology is $45,000 of that total.
However, the culinary arts program at Hays will happen regardless as it’s not part of the bond request.
As far as the demand for career and technology courses, Mitchell said she believes it exists. She said the welding class at Hays is a high demand class.
“The classes are full all day long; we can’t even bus students over from Lehman,” she said.
Cosmetology is also in demand, according to Mitchell.
“I looked at the four-year plans (made by students in eight grade),” she said. “So many students wanted to be in the cosmetology program – there is a huge demand.”
