Guest editorial submitted by Mike Rohrbach/Chair - CCLAC

Many of us often wonder why some schools can not offer a wider range of subjects to their students. We have the special education classes, advanced placement classes and honor's classes and tutorial ones help achieve better AIMS scores.

Of particular relevance in our economic system are classes that teach a specific skill or vocation. As students think about careers, they think College or no College. If a student has no particular interest in going to college, the alternative offerings are Voc. Ed Classes [ now called Career Technical Education classes, CTE ]. The larger the school, the more CTE classes are offered. But in rural Arizona most schools are small. So where can take CTE classes ?

Most parents, and therefore most students do not realize that while they are in High School, they can take these CTE classes at a Cochise College campus. Yes, high school students are eligible to take college CTE classes while they are still in high school. Not only that. By taking these classes through what is known as the COMPACT program, they can earn high school credits while also building college or certificate credits. As if that were not exciting enough, the College subsidizes 50% of the tuition for these vocational courses.

So why is a literacy organization like the Cochise County Learning Advisory Council [CCLAC] telling about these classes. You may have heard of CCLAC before, in connection with computer recycling, our program to refurbish used computers and provide them to non profits, needy families and individuals, at very low prices. To do this we need to have people skilled in 'computer hardware maintenance and repair'. Strangely enough, that is the name of the CIS 260 class at the college. CCLAC provides a computer to each student completing that course. CCLAC is always looking for skilled youngsters interested in working with us as mentors for adults wanting to learn how to use computers and the Internet.

Many residents have said to us, they wished they had known about this alternative dual path that their kids could have or could take now. Your youngster can take courses towards certificates in the Certified Nursing Assistant program, accounting/business, computer information systems, networking, culinary arts, fire science, HVAC, welding or building construction technology. These are but a few of the choices covered by this

COMPACT program. More information as well as pre-requisite information is available at the counseling office of the high school or through the College by asking for the COMPACT program registration package. And now what youth 19 years of age and younger who have dropped out of high school are now invited to participate as well.

CCLAC is looking for youth qualified to work with computers, and there must be other organizations looking to intern or hire your student while he/she is earning a qualifying certificate from the College. For some students, attending a course at the College may give a different perspective of what college is really like. If you are thinking that some college vocational classes might be of interest to your son or daughter while still in high school, don't delay. December is the time to sign up.