The College and Career Academy is set to apply for an educational program sponsored by the Ford Motor Company after the Floyd County Board of Education approved participation during their monthly meeting Tuesday night.
“The Ford PAS, Partnership for Advanced Studies, is an initiative part of Ford’s Company interest in education,” said Frank Pinson, CEO of the Career Academy, during caucus. “This program costs us absolutely nothing, and we get a lot for it.”
The Ford PAS program provides additional funding for staff development and curriculum support. It provides high school students with interdisciplinary learning experiences to prepare students for careers in areas such as business, engineering and technology.
“It’s an interactive hands-on curriculum that students can really sink their teeth into,” said Pinson, who added that there are currently only 10 Ford PAS programs established nationwide, and this would be the only one in Georgia if the Career Academy application is accepted.
The program would provide learning opportunities for all the Floyd County high schools since the Career Academy works within the Floyd County school system. Pinson said acceptance into the program should be known by mid to late April.
During caucus, the school board also discussed the budget, which as of February, is under budget by approximately 1.5 percent.
“This 1.51 percent under budget really verifies for us that the cuts we have made are in line with the governor’s cuts, we have balanced our cuts,” said Bob Puckett, deputy superintendent of finance.
The school board is currently facing close an approximately 2.5-percent budget cut from the state for the current fiscal year. It is expected that the percent under budget will continue to grow to match state cuts.
