Schools ponder JROTC program for 2003-2004
The Carroll County Board of Education is seeking community input on a proposal to place an Air Force Junior ROTC program at Century and Winters Mill high schools in the 2003-2004 school year.
Comments may be submitted to Steven Johnson, director of curriculum and instruction, at 410-751-3098 or smjohns@k12. carr.org by Dec. 4. The board is expected to make its decision Dec. 11.
Air Force Junior ROTC is a four-year program of academics and leadership classes.
Academic studies include aviation history and science of flight and exploration of space. Leadership topics include Air Force customs and courtesies, cadet corps activities, communication skills, and leadership and management.
The Air Force would provide the curriculum and all materials. Each program would have an instructor and assistant who are Air Force retirees hired by the principal as part of the high school staff and paid by the school system.
School system staff are recommending the following:
Future placement of all Junior ROTC programs in Carroll County public schools.
Placing Air Force Junior ROTC at Century and Winters Mill high schools.
Funding staff salaries in the fiscal 2004 budget.
Placing these Junior ROTC courses in the program of studies for the 2003-2004 school year at Winters Mill and Century: " Aerospace Science," "Frontiers of Aviation History," "Science of Flight," "Exploration of Space," "Options" and four levels of "Leadership Education."
Public schools offer GED diploma program
Carroll County public schools offers General Educational Development tests and practice sessions for ages 16 and older who wish to earn their high school diploma.
The two-day GED test consists of five sections: math, science, social studies, literature and the arts, and writing skills.
To sit for the test, individuals must be at least age 16, have been a state resident for at least 90 days and have been withdrawn from school for at least 90 days. A fee applies.
The next practice tests will be given from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 and 13 at Carroll Adult Learning Connection, 224 N. Center St., Westminster. The next test dates are from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 12 and Jan. 9 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and Jan. 11 at Westminster High School, 1225 Washington Road.
Information: 410-751-3680.
Westminster High teacher honored by association
Dorothy Louks, a German and Spanish teacher at Westminster High School, has been awarded the Outstanding German Teacher Award for 2002 by the regional chapter of American Association of Teachers of German.
Criteria for the award include five or more years of service in German education, participation in professional organizations, contribution to German language education, continued growth as a German educator and evidence of community or national impact.
Louks is a graduate of Albion College in Michigan. She taught German and Spanish in Howard County from 1983 until last year, when she came to Westminster High.
Study indicates college makes good financial sense
A study recently completed by the Governor's Workforce Investment Board found that graduates of Carroll Community College see their incomes grow substantially upon completion of a career degree program.
The study, conducted by the Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore, found that Carroll Community College students' incomes increased by 2.4 times, on average, within three years of graduation.
The study identified annual earnings for graduating classes of Association of Applied Science (AAS) career programs between 1995 and 2000.
Information: 410-386-8435.