University of Virginia Library

Vocational School
Approved By City,
County School Board

By Corbin Eissler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

High school courses ranging
from air conditioning repair to
cosmetology to data processing and
electronics will be taught in Charlottesville's
proposed vocational
center.

The concept of this joint vocational
center to serve Charlottesville
and Albemarle County school
systems was confirmed Tuesday
by City Council and the Board of
Supervisors. The $1.3 million center
was unanimously endorsed by
both bodies.

Idea Approval

Thomas J. Mitchie Jr., the city
school board member who presented
the proposal for the center
to the joint meeting, said that
"approval of the idea" for the
vocational school would precede
the preparing of plans.

"We feel that there is a need for
this facility in Charlottesville, which
is growing rapidly and demands a
trained work force," said Mr.
Mitchie. But, he added, the center
"will succeed only if strong public
support" backs the future employment
and vocational education of
its students.

Joint Center

The joint center, which would
be built, financed and operated by
both city and county, would be
under the control of a central
director. The director, in turn,
would be responsible to a six-member
board from the city and county
school boards. Budgets for the
center would be adopted by
separate school boards as long as
the two localities remain separate.
Charlottesville and Albemarle
County are currently investigating
the possibility of a merger.

The report recommending the
center had been drawn up by a
joint committee of the city and
county school boards during the
past year. Cost estimates show that
federal and state funds would pay
$650,000 for construction, land
and preliminary preparations. The
city and county would divide the
remaining $675,000 for the center.

An annual operating budget of
$150,000 makes vocational education
"more costly than special
education," said Mr. Mitchie, a high
cost due to materials, special
instructors, small classes and overhead.

Mayor Vogt

Mayor G.A. Vogt added, "even
though the cost is relatively high,
the return to the community (in
taxes) has proven to more than
equal the cost of educating" future
employees.

Mr. Mitchie envisions a 12-area
facility in which 11 trades will be
taught, leaving one area vacant for
special needs of the community or
of local industry, should they come
up. He added that the center
planned to serve 300 students; 150
would work at the center in the
morning, 150 in the afternoon.
When not studying at the center the
students will return to their own
high schools for academic work.