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Student urges expansion of vocational programs; district outlines CTE pathway work
Summary
A Linden High School student urged the board to expand vocational (VoTech) offerings, saying hands‑on programs improved her motivation; Superintendent Dr. Perkins said the district is strengthening college‑career technical education pathways and upgrading facilities.
A Linden student told the board that vocational training transformed her outlook and urged the district to expand career‑technical options.
"Until I got accepted into Votec, that's when I really knew what I want to do with my life," student speaker Nicolette Zawinski told trustees. She said vocational classes increased her motivation and academic performance and criticized a principal’s attitude as a deterrent to student engagement.
Superintendent Dr. Perkins thanked the student and said the district already offers college‑career technical courses and is working to make the pathway clear from elementary through middle school into high school. Perkins referenced recent upgrades—naming cosmetology as an example—and said the district is surveying students and partnering with community organizations to develop cohorts that stay together as they transition into high‑school career pathways.
Perkins declined to discuss personnel issues in a public meeting and asked any student or parent with concerns about staff behavior to meet privately with administrators. The district encouraged the student to provide additional input and said staff will continue outreach to align offerings with student interest.
The board did not take any formal votes related to program expansion at the meeting; the comments were recorded as public input and will inform ongoing strategic‑plan work on CTE pathways.
