Fountain Lake to use input for new school

FOUNTAIN LAKE — Fountain Lake administrators are set to use information provided by local businesses and industries to develop classes and programs at the new charter high school.

Megan Greeson, economic development manager for The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, emailed surveys to local companies in April. Representatives from the chamber and National Park College accompanied school officials to meet with the Arkansas Department of Education board last semester.

“We bounced the idea of this business partnership off of them at that time,” Fountain Lake Superintendent Darin Beckwith said. “Now they are really helping us drill down to that next level.”

The Fountain Lake Charter High School will emphasize personal experiences for students and career education. Members of the administration, faculty and staff have been involved in researching career education to develop new programs at the high school.

The school received 34 responses from local companies. The district’s next step is to incorporate the feedback into planning for the charter school.

Principal Donald Westerman said the feedback will be used to develop courses, content, and the sequences in which material is taught. The surveys were used to identify skills needed in employees and whether companies would be interested in collaborating with the school in the future.

“We are just trying to create that open door, that line of communication where we can be talking back and forth,” said Brad Sullivan, director of curriculum instruction. “As we invite people in to talk to our students and talk about their industry, as we go and visit industry and maybe even take kids to job shadow or intern eventually, that is what we are trying to do in this initial survey, too. That is an outcome we are looking for.”

Replies from local businesses and industries indicated dependability, motivation, communication skills and time- management skills as four soft skills most generally lacking in job applicants. The high school will offer a foundation course next school year to teach students the necessary soft skills that companies desire in employees. Administrators have visited schools in other states and adjusted the faculty to fit the school’s needs.

Computer skills were listed by 28 of the 34 companies as general skills employees needed. Replies showed mathematics, presentation skills and reading as top skills most desired in employees.

Twenty- eight of the 34 companies said employment of entrylevel positions will increase in the next five years. Sullivan said the district hopes to open a line of ongoing communication with local businesses and industries.

The survey included questions about how companies would like to cooperate with the district in the future. They were asked whether they could provide mentors, guest speakers, tours of their facilities, internships or other assistance.

Fountain Lake was approved for a waiver to adjust the school day to fit the schedules of students interested in career education. The waiver will allow students to begin school later in the day and take part in internships, apprenticeships or even night classes related to their areas of interest.

Westerman said the district hopes to modify its approach to advising career and technical education.