In a historic move fueled by the growing demand for skilled tradespeople and the evolution of career technical education, the School Committee has decided that Taconic is a solely vocational school.
Sa'lina Rheaume went through the career exploration program at Taconic High School before finding electrical work to be rewarding as well as being the potential for a well-paying career.
If the panel is in favor, Taconic will only accept Career Technical Education (CTE) students in the fall of 2023 and, by the fall of 2027, will be all vocational.
The School Committee at its last meeting continued this conversation that started about two years ago. In March, it was recommended that the school move toward the all-vocational model beginning next year.
The now-graduated student laid the foundations for the voice club in April 2021 and its first meeting was held in October 2021. Prior to the club, there were no student government organizations at the high school.
Taconic High School valedictorian William Garrity urged his classmates to make the best out of a challenging situation, both with the class's high school experience and with their futures.
On Wednesday, the School Committee approved the naming of the Kevin P. Harrington Memorial Softball Field. Harrington graduated from Taconic in 2000 and went on the teach at the high school for 13 years.
The competition took place in April and consisted of an engineering challenge involving designing and building mechanical and electrical systems and integrating them by programming computer controls to solve a real-world problem.
Assistant Superintendent Tammy Gage gave a presentation to the School Committee on Wednesday on the impact of increased career technical education, or CTE, applications for Taconic and the implications for the Pittsfield Public Schools.