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Director highlights surge in industry certifications, dual enrollment and capital projects
Summary
Dr. Smith reported that student industry certifications rose from 2 (2021-22) to 474 this year, dual-enrollment course enrollments exceeded 1,400, middle college participation increased and capital projects including Central High School renovations are complete or near completion.
Dr. Smith, director of schools for Hardeman County, presented an end-of-year report that highlighted a rapid increase in student industry certifications, large gains in dual-enrollment participation, progress on capital-improvement projects and other program updates.
"This past of this current year, by the May, we had 474," Dr. Smith said when summarizing industry certifications earned by high-school students. The district reported certifications in CPR, CNA (31 or 32 students passed the CNA exam), OSHA 10, ServSafe, NCRC and an NC3 Snap-on multimeter certification. Dr. Smith said some students earn certifications that can translate immediately to entry-level jobs; she noted students leaving high school with a CNA could earn $16 to $20 per hour.
Dr. Smith also described rapid growth in dual-enrollment activity. "We have hit over 1,400," she said, referring to the number of dual-enrollment course enrollments (a single student may enroll in multiple dual-enrollment courses). The report referenced partnerships with Jackson State, UT Martin and TCAT; Dr. Smith noted that 21 students from an early middle-college cohort previously graduated with associate degrees and that 72 students are currently signed up to start middle college in the fall.
On capital improvements, Dr. Smith said work at Central High School has closed out and Bolivar Elementary is expected to be complete by July. She showed before-and-after photos of Central and described renovations to the band room, library conversions to tech hubs (funded in part by an innovative-schools grant) and campus repairs. Dr. Smith said the educational capital projects estimate discussed in the meeting was roughly $2.9 million.
Other highlights included summer-school participation (415 students enrolled; average daily attendance around 260), improvements in FAFSA completion (Middleton High School reported about a 94% completion rate), and district-wide gains in achievement measures and chronic absenteeism reductions; Dr. Smith noted six of nine schools received level 3 or above on current indicators and most schools met AMO targets for absenteeism.
Why it matters: Industry certifications, dual enrollment and capital improvements directly affect students' postsecondary and career readiness, local workforce pathways and the condition of school facilities.
Dr. Smith closed with staff and community recognitions and a reminder that these programmatic changes are the result of multi-year planning and grant-supported investments.
