Board hears plan to restore high-school business program; administration proposes one new teacher position

District administrators told the board they plan to propose reinstating a high-school business program that would return business coursework, internships and career credentialing to Averill Park High School.

What was proposed: Heath, the presenter, told trustees the district could launch a minimum of four business courses next year with a single business teacher; the staffing and course count could expand to six or eight courses depending on how the schedule is structured (full-year vs. half-year courses). The position would also coordinate a Career Exploration and Internship Program (CEIP) and the Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) credential the high school currently does not offer.

Why administration supports it: Presenters said business pathways exist in nearby Capital District high schools and that Averill Park students currently lack local access. Heath described the proposal as aligning with the district’s college- and career-readiness mission and said a new business teacher would help students earn college credit in some cases and create systematic internship connections in the region.

History and timing: The district’s last full business program ran through the 2010–11 school year, with fewer courses in the years immediately afterward. Officials said recent attrition in the technology department and a curriculum renewal that cycles technology courses made it possible to add a business pathway without losing the district’s engineering and Project Lead The Way sequences.

Board discussion: Trustees and audience members asked about staffing supply (whether the district could recruit a qualified teacher), interaction with Hudson Valley or BOCES programs, and whether students’ interest had been surveyed. Heath said the district had not yet done a broad student-interest pull but had contacted regional partners and principals to identify high-enrollment business course models; he expressed confidence the district would attract qualified applicants.

Budget note: The administration said the proposed position is part of the recommended budget and would be funded within staffing plans, in part thanks to recent restructuring and attrition in other areas of the curriculum department.

Next steps: Administrators said they will survey students, work with hiring teams on course design, and include the position in the budget materials that the board will discuss and adopt on its scheduled timeline.