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Students credited with saving driver; Muncie Area Career Center highlights program growth and adult-education gains
Summary
At a Muncie Community Schools board meeting, two juniors from Muncie Area Career Center were recognized for performing CPR on an unresponsive driver; district and career-center leaders also reviewed CTE pathways, adult education expansions, partnerships and rising applications.
The Muncie Community Schools board on Tuesday recognized two Muncie Area Career Center students who performed life-saving CPR and heard an overview of the center's expanding career and adult-education programs.
Caleb Beasley, speaking for the career center, introduced juniors Noemi Galan and Julio Rodriguez and described their response to an apparent medical emergency: "Noemi started chest compressions as soon as she could, and she counted her compressions as she had been trained to do," Beasley told the board, and said the students stayed with the patient until emergency medical technicians arrived and transported him to a local hospital.
The spotlight presentation also served as a status update on the career center's programs. Beasley said MAC offers 16 career pathways and has strengthened postsecondary partnerships with Vincennes University and Ivy Tech Community College so students can earn college credit; he said several first-year pathways now enable up to nine college credits and that 168 career-center students would be recognized at Ivy Tech's commencement on May 10 for earning certificates or technical credentials.
Beasley described both high-school CTE and adult-education offerings, noting adult programs include high-school equivalency preparation, English-language learner classes, a newly opened clinical medical assistant track for adults, a welding pathway with Ivy Tech credit and HVAC and ParaPro certification courses. He said the adult-education program was recognized by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development as a "program of excellence" for meeting goals on enrollment and measurable skills gain.
On enrollment, Beasley told the board MAC stayed above 400 students this year and reported 572 applicants for next school year as of April 1; he cautioned the district does not expect to retain that full number but said his goal for fall enrollment was more than 500 students.
Board members and attendees offered practical follow-ups: one member asked about internship gaps, and Beasley said established internships are strong in health science, dental careers and early childhood but the center seeks more placements in HVAC, automotive, manufacturing and electrical. The board also discussed marketing support; Beasley noted a modest grant-funded marketing budget and welcomed proposals from trustees to expand outreach.
Beasley invited the board to two upcoming events: adult-education graduation on May 15 at Muncie Central High School and a CTE recognition and signing day on May 22 at the Muncie Fieldhouse, where postsecondary partners, employers and apprenticeship programs will meet students.
The board applauded the students and staff for the emergency response and for the wider work of the career center. The meeting moved on after the presentation to other business on the agenda.
