Contributed
UPGRADES — The Jefferson County Joint Vocational School has undergone a $1 million technology upgrade to enhance education through distance learning.
BLOOMINGDALE — Jefferson County Joint Vocational School is going the distance with education after installing more than $1 million worth of technology to broaden students’ learning capabilities.
Technology Coordinator Ron Peach said the site is now fully equipped with interactive television screens and other hardware designed to network with universities and other facilities. Work began this spring and installation has been completed through Solutionz Inc. The technology was financed through a blend of federal funding and local matching funds. In January, the JVS received $854,842 through the Fiscal Year 2023 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program that was administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. The school also provided a 15-percent match of about $156,800 total, bringing the total to $1,011,647.
Peach said the modernized system will connect the JVS to other educational institutions while also offering some high-tech support for networking. Classrooms and labs can interact with universities and other facilities while similar capabilities will be available in the cafeteria and training room. The technology is connected to the internet and a Windows 11 Pro computer is built into each display, plus there is interactive software to write and take notes.
“Every classroom is done and there will be a training on Aug. 19 for all of the teachers on the new equipment,” Peach said, adding that officials opted to complete the updates immediately instead of incrementally. “We fast-tracked it over the summer and did it all at once, but we could have done it over three years. I’m excited to see the teachers use the new technology.”
For now, several program labs will interact with educational partners in remote sessions, but hopes are for all classes to take advantage of the opportunity. Among the partnerships are the culinary arts program with West Virginia Northern Community College, health technologies with the St. Louis University School of Medicine, criminal justice with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and cosmetology with Salon Centric. Peach said the sheriff’s department and partner schools also obtained equipment while St. Louis University already utilizes its own. Students can begin their 21st century learning experience when they return on Aug. 21.
Additionally, guest speakers can give presentations without being on the campus. The commons area was outfitted with two large screens and two laser projectors, as well as cameras, microphones and speakers, and the system is controlled by a touchscreen panel in the room. He noted that it can be used for other events such as school assemblies and senior recognition ceremonies.
“It opens up more opportunities for our students and they can receive remote instruction from professors at universities through distance learning,” Peach continued. “It’s always an advantage to hear more viewpoints from the professionals and I’m hoping to eventually get more programs online for distance learning.”
He has gained more interest and said it is a long-term goal to enhance instruction for students in all academic and vocational programs, from core subjects to the JVS’s 16 hands-on courses: Animal science management, auto body collision, auto service technology, carpentry, computer network technologies, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, early childhood education, electrical trades, health technologies, heavy equipment operator, multimedia and design, power mechanics, Transition To Work and welding.
“Once they see the advantages that the four current programs have, they may implement it into their own programs. There’s no added cost and the equipment is already installed.”