The Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center has welcomed Clearwater High School to its consortium for the upcoming academic year, increasing its total network of area sending schools to 10, in addition to PBHS.
“It’s such a milestone to get this partnership officially approved,” said Dr. Leigh Ann Cornman, TCC director. Before the R-I Board of Education unanimously greenlit the addition earlier this school year, Cornman stated: “It has the potential to significantly increase our numbers at the TCC.”
The Missouri State BOE officially accepted Clearwater’s request to change its area career and technical education school designation on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Jefferson City, according to a letter from Dr. Karla Eslinger, education commissioner.
Although the deadline was too tight for Piedmont’s school system to implement the change for the current school year, according to Cornman, that only helped to strengthen the transition plan from its previous sending school of Arcadia Valley.
TCC representatives visited Clearwater in the fall, and then hosted the incoming juniors and seniors earlier this calendar year. Upperclassmen presently taking CTE programming also offered in Poplar Bluff will be able to complete their senior year at the TCC.
“This expansion of our consortium is a testament to the power of career and technical education and it will make a positive difference in the lives of all our students who are transitioning to the workforce, whether they’re from Clearwater or our other sending schools,” Cornman continued. “Our job is to prepare them to have the skills needed to be successful.”
The TCC will host a commitment night for the families of incoming students next month. Approximately 250 students, including adults, were enrolled at the TCC as of last semester, Cornman reported.
The last school to change its affiliation to the TCC was Dexter during the 2020/21 academic year, along with a non-consortium agreement established locally with Westwood Baptist, a parochial partner. Other long-time members include East Carter, Greenville, Puxico, Southern Reynolds, Twin Rivers, Van Buren and Zalma.
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Cutline: (Left to right) Missouri CTE Coordinator Roger Barnes, who was the first to notify R-I school officials of Clearwater’s approval, visits with TCC Director Dr. Leigh Ann Cornman, Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman and Assistant Superintendent of Business Charles Kinsey during the Culinary Arts Center ribbon cutting held back in October.