CareerTech Board Approves Board Zones, Sets Election for Texas County Center

At its regular meeting Thursday the Oklahoma State Board of Career and Technology Education approved the creation of five board zones for the newly established technology center district in the panhandle’s Texas County.

Staff at the state agency has been working with personnel from Goodwell, Guymon, Optima and Tyrone School Districts, the “Guymon On The Move Committee” and the Oklahoma State Senate staff to divide the technology center district into five zones of approximate equal population.

The state board also called for elections Feb. 13, 2007 to select board members for each of the five zones. Once board members are elected they will work on funding and services the technology center will offer.

“In our budget request, we are asking the state legislature to appropriate $3 million to help establish this new technology center district,” said Phil Berkenbile, director. “In the past the legislature has provided funding for new technology centers. This is important to help with initial cost of the tech center.”

Some 320 eleventh- and twelfth-grade students from the four school districts are eligible to attend the technology center at no charge. It is estimated that more than 150 adults who live in the district will enroll in full-time programs and a myriad of services will be available to business and industry in the area.

“We are excited about the opportunities a technology center will offer to our students and those in the business community,” said Mike Parkhurst, assistant superintendent for Guymon Public Schools and spokesperson for the “Guymon On The Move” Committee. “People in the area will have greater access to high quality education and training. This will help keep our economy and our quality of life strong.”

Posted Oct. 23, 2006