Fayetteville City Schools expands work-based learning, plans special-education vehicle and opens middle-school lab

Fayetteville City Schools supervisors told the board Feb. 6 that work-based learning placements have expanded this school year and that the district will purchase a vehicle to transport special-education students to off-site placements using existing special-education funds.

Supervisors said two students presently participate daily in work-based learning at local employers including Rick's Barbecue, The Patrick and Hands of Mercy, and that an additional junior or senior will be added next year. The district reported there are funds available within the special-education budget to purchase a vehicle dedicated to special-education transportation and related uses (training and staff travel), though it will not be used to transport non-special-education students for general purposes.

The vehicle will be administered by the special-education department; supervisors said it will be fueled through the city fuel system and used primarily to shuttle students and for special-education staff travel to professional development or training. Board members were told staff may later request a reallocation among budget line items to reflect the purchase but that the funds are currently available.

Separately, administrators reported that a new middle-school lab at Fayetteville Middle School is fully implemented. The lab includes modular, hands-on CTE-style stations described by supervisors as including a plumbing station, a digital welder module and multimedia/radio recording capability. Supervisors said some modules will provide high-school credit and that seventh- and eighth-grade students will be oriented to the course as a potential pathway to high-school CTE offerings.

Facilities and transportation updates

Supervisors also reported receipt of new buses (one awaiting inspection), an increased number of licensed drivers (Drew Robbie and Drew Robbie was specifically named as having a bus license) and an architect-driven project to improve the front entrance and canopy at Ralph Haskins to improve ADA compliance. The board received an update that FEMA-related matters remain in a holding pattern pending federal announcements.

Why it matters

The district's purchase of a vehicle dedicated to special-education transportation is intended to sustain daily work-based learning placements, which local employers have indicated could lead to future hiring. The middle-school lab expands hands-on learning and a bridge to high-school Career and Technical Education credit.

What the board said

A supervisor reported: "We have enough money in our sped budget to be able to purchase a vehicle." Dr. West, representing Fayetteville Middle School, described the lab modules and asked the board to attend a tour scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7. Board members were invited to observe students working in pairs during the lab tour.

Clarifying details

- Current work-based learning partners named: Rick's Barbecue; The Patrick; Hands of Mercy. - Current participants: two juniors/seniors attend daily; an additional student is expected next year. - Funding: purchase to come from special-education budget; staff indicated a later line-item reallocation request may be made to record the purchase. - Vehicle use restrictions: intended for special-education transportation and related staff travel; not for routine transport of non-special-education students.

Ending

The board scheduled a tour of Fayetteville Middle School and the lab at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 and will discuss five-year planning and other priorities at the subsequent work session.