Hilltop Schools will soon have an FCCLA chapter, thanks to the efforts of a teacher.
Helen Phillips gave a proposal about the program and it convinced the Board of Education to sign off at the Oct. 17 meeting.
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private school through grade 12, according to the organization’s website.
Everyone is part of a family, and FCCLA is the only national Career and Technical Student Organization with the family as its central focus.
Since 1945, FCCLA members have been making a difference in their families, careers, and communities by addressing important personal, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education.
The program does not cost a lot of money Phillips said and its benefits goes beyond high school and into life itself. A student is required to pay $15 for state and national dues, plus $3 for being part of a local chapter.
If the school can get 12 students to pay for the state and national dues, the district can check it off their objectives for the state report card.
“I think I have 12 easily,” Phillips said.
There are costs for attending competitions and the state convention which requires a hotel room for an overnight stay.
The benefits include developing leadership skills as well as organization techniques through forming and running committees. The program takes place in the classroom, she said.
That includes events, planning and meetings, Phillips said.
“I have a taken a shy kid and seen them give a speech before 5,000 people,” Phillips said.
She will have five to six sections for FCCLA and that will make one chapter.
The proposal sounded great to board and district officials.
“It sounds like a great opportunity for the kids,” Board President Sarah Carothers said.
“It’s pertinent to all our kids,” Superintendent Larry Long said.
In other news, Janice Bruner will host a mock presidential debate and election Nov. 4. Students will get to register to vote, learn the importance of being an informed voter and how the Electoral College works. The students will be divided up much like the Electoral College, Principal Steven Riley said.
Elementary School Principal Laurie Worline talked about the participation of her students in the homecoming parade this year. The school has enjoyed great weather for its many field trips this fall.
The other highlight was her staff feeding the football team a taco bar. Despite preparations, they still ended up with more food at the end, Worline said.
James Pruitt may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
