Over two thirds of Adair County business leaders have indicated a willingness to help with the new ACHS "School-To-Work" program which enables students to gain real-work experience while they are still in school and receive school credit for that work.

The main points of the program:

*One or more students will be available to work as an observer/apprentice for a minimum of 50 hours per year. A designated member of management will be the student's mentor - the student will be a shadow.

*There is no charge to the business during the first 150 hours. The program will include the opportunity for students to receive 50 paid hours. Total hours of the program will be 200.

*Transportation and liability insurance are both the responsibility of the school program for all unpaid students working for school credits.

*Every effort will be made to make this a meaningful and helpful program for the business as well as for the student. Please instruct any representative of STW as to how the program might be made more effective for business needs.

*The STW goal is simply to graduate young persons who are better prepared to step into the workplace as responsible employees. With the help of local business leaders, it is believed that this is possible.

Adair County Chairperson, Sue Stivers can offer businesses more information, 384-2317, or students may contact Mrs. Joyce Durham at ACHS.

Tech Prep

Tech Prep is offered to prepare students for jobs in the high tech world of work.

Classes rotate through aerospace, audio/video, applied physics, computer aided drafting, computer aided manufacturing, desktop publishing/graphics, electricity/electronics, engineering structures, environmental impact, laser fiber optics, biomedical technology, robotics, telecommunications, and transportation/production.

The Tech Prep area includes a state of the art conference training room built with funds from local industries. After school begins an open house is planned for the community according to Scott Hammond, Director.