Citrus High aviation club approved; AMP program and grant timeline remain uncertain

Organizers told the Citrus County Aviation Advisory Board on June 11 that an aviation pathway is gaining traction in local schools: an aviation club at Citrus High School has been approved and organizers are planning courses and partnerships to link high-school coursework with post-secondary AMP certifications.

"The aviation club has been approved. It will begin in August," said Donna Cozy, who identified herself and said she is leading local aviation-pathway efforts. Cozy said planned high-school offerings include aerospace technologies I and II and ground school, which could feed into WTC's AMP mechanics and dual-enrollment certifications. She said the AMP elements are unlikely to start this fall due to timing and enrollment constraints and that the earliest realistic start for some AMP components is fall 2027.

Cozy and board members discussed partnerships with the EAA chapter and with Citrus County School District staff, including meetings scheduled with a new high-school principal, Dr. Heert, and with WTC staff. Cozy noted a grant opportunity recently came to her attention and said the grant closes next Thursday; she expected Colleen (a staff contact) to have further details and to follow up with the board.

Board members emphasized coordination among schools, WTC and volunteer groups to avoid duplication and to ensure grant applications and program design stay aligned. The chair suggested public outreach, including putting workshop notices on the aviation advisory board web page and public calendars to encourage attendance for planned training and community briefings.

The board encouraged organizers to continue working with school and county staff and to report back with any funding updates or formal grant applications.