Dear Editor:

 

Many think Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) should offer programs in-house to prepare the next generation of car mechanics, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, welders, food service staff, healthcare professionals and graphic designers. I wish we could; however, we do have an excellent program for those areas of study relatively close.
           

For background, this school year, 176 students attend BRHS, 36 are seniors, and 50 are juniors. Currently, 13 of our 11th- and 12th-grade students are receiving a top-notch education in the trades at Bath Regional Career and Technical Center (BRCTC). Some of our students at BRCTC have their eyes set on college. Nonetheless, the majority are focusing on learning a trade and earning vocational certifications. Maine education leaders decided several years ago to focus vocation training in 27 education centers and schools across the state. Certified instructors facilitate courses in fully equipped shop areas. When the new $75 million Morse High School opens in the winter of 2021, it will include a modern vocational learning section. BRCTC is where the state funds resources for the vocation students of our region. Quite simply, we could not afford the breadth and depth of the programming available in Bath. Boothbay region students are excelling in the Bath program and are being educated and well-prepared for their future.
             

Routinely 60% of our seniors opt to attend a two- or four-year college after graduation. Knowing that we have a valuable partner close by in Bath for our students, learners attending BRHS full-time are benefiting from the superb work our teachers are doing preparing them for the rigors of college.  We are increasingly focusing our efforts to develop a cutting-edge technology program of studies at BRHS, skills for the future that we can afford to offer. We have the skilled faculty to instruct these courses and necessary resources to teach computer programming classes, coding, robotics, and entrepreneurial courses. Our students are garnering 21st-century skills and gaining confidence to learn more and do more with technology.  

             

In partnership with the Bath Career and Technical Center, our students are taking advantage of the superb opportunities available to them to ensure their success for the future.

 

 

Dr. Keith S. Laser. Ed.D.

AOS 98 superintendent