The Cottonwood-Oak Creek School Governing Board made masks optional and approved a new alternative learning high school program at its June 1 meeting.
The board unanimously approved a revision to its COVID-19 mitigation plan following a work session discussing the issue, making masks optional for students and staff over the summer.
Its decision was made based on Yavapai County Community Health Services’ reports of moderate COVID-19 transmission levels in the area and the increasing number of people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, Superintendent Steve King said. The board also received a letter of support for the move from YCCHS.
The board agreed with King’s recommendation that masks be optional at all summer programs this year. The school will have health aides available throughout the summer to help monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 in students as a precautionary measure. Board President Eric Marcus recommended they include a clause in the revision allowing the superintendent to reinstate mandatory mask-wearing should the number of COVID-19 cases significantly increase, which was agreed upon by the rest of the board.
King said they have had mostly positive feedback from the families in their district regarding the change.
“We only had one person who emailed me with not very pleasant things to say, but other than that, we have tremendous support within our district amongst most families,” he said. “By far, the vast majority of families were very appreciative and very supportive.”
Bridgeway Expansion
The board unanimously approved the expansion of the Bridgeway Alternative Education Program to high school students through a new program dubbed “VerdeTech.”
The Bridgeway Alternative Education Program provides nontraditional education for students in sixth through eighth grade who are struggling to succeed in a regular classroom setting. Verde Tech will expand that program by offering alternative technical and trade classes to high school students, Student Support Services Director Trish Alley said.
“If their high school that they go to, if it doesn’t work out, they’ve got a plan B,” she said.
The program is not intended for just those who attended Bridgeway classes. Anyone in the community can enroll, and application packets are already available at the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District’s front office.
Alley said when the program first rolls out, it will be able to accommodate eight to 10 students in ninth or 10th grade. It is also prepared to welcome 11th grade students who have a lot of credit recovery to complete, or students who missed ninth or 10th grade. It hopes to expand those numbers to students in 12th grade and increase the number of available seats in the future.
Marcus said there is significant need for a program like this in the community, as upward of 90% of the district’s Bridgeway students do not graduate high school.
“This is something that we are doing because there is a demonstrated need,” he said. “We believe the students need learning and emotional support that, so far, we have been unable to persuade local high schools to offer.”
The program will start by offering agriculture classes, taught by Danny Watkins, and automotive courses, taught by Damian Andre. Alley said they hope to offer culinary classes in the future and anything else that students express interest in.
“The sky’s the limit. I think if a student came to us and was interested in something, we’d figure it out,” Alley said. “We can figure it out so that we can start really producing valued members of our community and start giving them a future.”
These classes will be offered in the mornings and then students will have the opportunity to make up credits in the afternoon if they are behind.
“Once you get to high school and life happens and all of the sudden you’ve missed a bunch of classes and you’ve failed out, it is almost impossible to catch up,” Alley said. “So it gives them a double dose of the day to make up credits if that’s what they’d like to do.”
Students in the Verde Tech program will also qualify for centralized student services through the Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education, therefore expanding their opportunities even further.
VACTE is considered a Career and Technical Education District, which is designed to provide career and technical education to high school students. VACTE Superintendent Bob Weir has been instrumental in helping create Verde Tech, King said. He has helped with receiving accreditation for the program as well as certifying and training teachers.
“He has done outstanding work, not just in this case, but in this entire valley,” King said.
