Porter County high school students will soon be able to earn a veterinary technician certification. The Valparaiso School Board officially added a veterinary science program to its career and technical education offerings last week.
Dr. Nick Allison, the assistant superintendent for secondary education, said recent surveys showed a lot of interest from students and a high demand from local veterinary clinics. "Students would basically go from the beginning of understanding animal science partnered with some of the anatomy and physiology pieces, all the way to being certified as a vet tech while exiting the program. So they would be able to go straight into the workforce either as a high schooler or right out of high school," Allison told board members.
The school board also approved updates to two existing CTE programs, moving digital design to the Hayes Leonard building and placing another section of the construction trades-carpentry program at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
School Board President Jennifer Bognar thanked administrators for reaching out to serve more students, as the programs become more popular. "I think these are three great programs and certainly lead directly to jobs and careers. So it's exciting new opportunities for our students," Bognar said.
Allison said Valparaiso Community Schools continues looking for opportunities to improve its programs, as the state clarifies its graduation pathways.
