Vantage works on student credentialing

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent writer

While the majority of schools around Ohio have adopted e-learning techniques during the ongoing COVID-19 induced shutdown, vocational schools and career centers are dealing with a different set of challenges.

That includes Van Wert-based Vantage Career Center, which currently provides instruction to more than 400 high school students in 17 different programs, and 250 full- and part-time adult education students studying other course programs.

In addition to standard academic work, high school students must complete hands-on instruction or lab work in their chosen program, which is a challenge given the fact that in-person education was halted by Governor Mike DeWine in mid-March in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID-19.

“Most of our career tech programs are 60-, 70-, or sometimes 80 percent contextual hands-on learning, and that creates some unique challenges for us in this environment,” Superintendent Rick Turner said. “The staff has done a wonderful job and the administrators have been working with them in coming up with alternative learning options, even for the career tech (portion).”

“One of the biggest challenges we have is how to finish those seniors up and get them their licenses or credentials in the heavy lab courses like machining, welding, mechanics, construction, and carpentry,” Turner added. “Even with cosmetology and health care you have customer service you work on, but we sat down and laid out a plan and we’re monitoring communication from the Ohio Dept. of Education, who is working with credentialing and licensure agencies to see what they’re going to do to modify the requirements.”

“For example, for AWS (American Welding Society) welding, we’re going to set some dates this summer or next fall where students come in and actually weld and take their test to get their credentials.”

Turner added that similar plans are in the works for CDL and other programs offered by Vantage.

“House Bill 197 has given us some latitude with that and says we can work with seniors even after the last scheduled day of school, so that’s been very helpful for us,” the superintendent said.

The last day for Vantage seniors is scheduled to be May 18, with the annual awards ceremony scheduled for the following night. The final day of school for juniors is currently slated for May 21.

While the campus is closed down, Turner noted teachers and instructors have stayed in contact with students.

“They’ve come up with innovative ways, using Google Classroom, Zoom, and Google Meet to come up with methods to interact with the students and keep them engaged,” Turner said.

As far as adult education end-of-course requirements, the mandated school building shutdown has also had an adverse effect.

“One example is our practical nursing program; we’ve pulled those students out of the clinical setting for obvious reasons,” Turner explained. “We don’t want to endanger them and we also don’t want to endanger patients and healthcare workers in the facilities, so it’s a two-way street, but the Ohio Board of Nursing has given us some latitude to allow us to continue online learning with them.”

The statewide school shutdown is currently scheduled to end Friday, May 1, but DeWine has previously said it’s possible in-person classes won’t resume during this academic year. A final decision will come later this month.