Local students are likely to have a new alternative education opportunity beginning in the fall of 2009. Armona Union Elementary School District was notified last week that it had been approved for a $600,000 grant to be awarded over three years to establish Crossroads Trade Tech Charter School.

Like Crossroads Charter Academy, the program will be site based, and the standard academic curriculum will be accessible 24 hours a day. In sixth grade, the Trade Tech Charter curriculum will begin to incorporate into the standards curriculum units to enhance life skills. And by sixth grade, students will begin to have training in trades and hands-on opportunities to job shadow with businesses in the community. In grades nine through 12, students will have the opportunity to focus more specifically on one particular trade of their choice.

Students of Crossroads Trade Tech would ultimately meet grade level standards for state testing, obtain skills necessary for, and take, the California High School Exit Exam, obtain credits for high school graduation, and be ready to attend college or enter the work force already trained and experienced in the trades.

Serving about 289 students, existing locations of Crossroads Charter Academy allow students to keep a flexible schedule without structured classes, doing work on computers at the campus they attend.

Crossroads Trade Tech School will serve students in kindergarten through 12th grade, but predominantly focus on introducing students to trades beginning in sixth grade. Steve Bogan, superintendent of Armona school district, said that he expects most of the Trade Tech School's students will be in grades six through 12.

District officials originally hoped to open the school's doors this fall, but due to the late date of notification, they will need more time to plan the school and its curriculum. They also need to secure a location for Crossroads Trade Tech. Trade Tech and Crossroads Charter Academy will be housed in the same yet-to-be-named facility, which must be at least 16,000 square feet.

Bogan said they plan to keep the Lemoore location of Crossroads operating, and are looking for further opportunities to expand.

Also during the '08-'09 school year, district and Crossroads officials must publicize the school, because Trade Tech will have to have at least 100 students in its first year to comply with the terms of the grant.

Laurie Blue, principal of Crossroads, who will also be principal to Trade Tech, said the new school will benefit not only Kings County but all of the surrounding counties.

"We as educators have kind of let down kids that are not headed for college," Blue said. "It's pretty exciting to know that this is something that is going to come to fruition. And it helps that the school board is so supporting of it."

Blue added that Trade Tech will be a great opportunity for the students not necessarily headed to college, although it could be for students who want to study a certain trade in college.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(July 18, 2008)