The district has about 269 students this school year, according to interim superintendent Rusty Clifford. On the last two state report cards, Jefferson Twp. has gotten 1.5 stars — the lowest rating of any district in the state. The district has lofty goals to improve reading, math and test scores.
Jefferson Twp. used $1.8 million in federal COVID-19 funding for local schools to build the addition. The ag ed teacher, Haley Warren, is paid through an agreement with the Montgomery County Career Tech Center.
Most of the MVCTC’s partner districts have some kind of local career tech programming, said Nick Weldy, the MVCTC superintendent. Career tech education is booming, with most of the career tech programs at capacity. Local programming can help to meet student demand without requiring more space at the career tech centers and without the kids needing to be bused to a different location.
Warren said there has already been a lot of interest in the program, with more than 90 students enrolled in her class last semester. Last September, Clifford said about 111 students were enrolled in the junior/senior high school.
Jefferson Twp. is primarily an agricultural area, and Clifford said he believes the agriculture component at the school will help the community engage with the schools.
District leaders say adding extracurriculars, like the agriculture program, a band and a football team, will help engage students and the community. Patricia Babetto, a member of the school board, said the expansion has made her hopeful for the future.
“All the changes that we’re making — the ag ed addition, our music department’s back — it’s just wonderful,” she said. “More for the kids, more for the district. It’s just amazing.”
Nyiarrha Wilcoxson, a senior at Jefferson Twp. schools and president of the school’s FFA club, said she is excited for the new space.
“I’m really excited to participate in something that could help outside of the school,” she said.
Wilcoxson said she had never been interested in agriculture before but liked to learn and joined because it was something to learn about.
Clifford said the ag ed program will be like a phoenix for the district.
“It will be a rejuvenation for this school,” he said.
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