
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 14, 1990                   TAG: 9006140016
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KARIN ROBBINS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

VOCATIONAL STUDENTS COULD GET ENROLLMENT IN COLLEGE PROGRAM

Superintendent Robert C. McCracken has announced that Giles County has agreed to apply for a grant with New River Community College and Virginia Tech that will allow students in the Giles Vocational School in Pearisburg to have dual enrollment in both high school and in New River Community College.

McCracken said at the Giles County School Board's Tuesday meeting that in the past most of the county's programs focused on technical skills.

"Now they are trying to go beyond that to give students opportunites in business management," McCracken said.

If the proposal receives money from the state, students in such vocational programs as auto repair, cosmetology, drafting and practical nursing would be able to enroll in the Small Business Management Program and begin working toward a two-year degree from New River Community College in Dublin.

The students would continue to take technical courses at the vocational school, but they also would take business management classes in the local high school that have been approved by New River Community College for college credit.

This would allow students to get a head start on the two-year community college program. Credits from New River could then be applied to a four-year degree in business management from Virginia Tech.

Other counties involved in the program include Montgomery, Floyd and Pulaski.

McCracken also announced that the grading system for the elementary schools is now consistent with that of the high schools.

In the past teachers, were converting students numerical grades to a four-point system and then to a letter grade.

Because of the teachers' concerns about the fairness of the grading system, McCracken has implemented the straight numerical system, which, according to adminstrative assistant Jim Wheeler, is a "more fair system."

by CNB