It was a great educational advancement when the idea of a vocational-technical school for public school students of Beaver County was debated and then decided upon. The vocational classes in the larger districts of the county had attracted and trained students over the years. But not all districts could manage such expensive programs, nor could individual schools easily keep their shops and training facilities up-to-date with the changing economic circumstances. The vocational-technical school that was conceived in the early 1970's is now a most successful part of the county's educational system.
The Beaver County Area Vocational-Technical School Board of Directors was incorporated in June of 1974. The function of the Board was to develop an area vocational-technical school for the Beaver County area. John Milanovich, executive director of the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit, was named chief school administrator for this project, and Rody Polojac was employed as the planning director for the Beaver County AVTS. In 1976 Dr. Francis W. Matika became the chief school administrator.
The planning process continued for four years and involved many community leaders and Citizens' Advisory Committees. Business and industry offered great assistance in the development and identification of the 21 programs which were to be offered to students in grades 11 and 12. Twenty-one different vocationaltechnical programs were offered to approximately 1,000 students.
The programs in vocational-technical education chosen for the school are listed below:
The Beaver County AVTS serves students from all the fifteen Beaver County school districts, from Aliquippa to Western Beaver.
The school is located on a 25-acre site in Center Township, Monaca, adjacent to the Beaver County Community College. The school opened to students in September, 1978.
The Beaver County AVTS acquired state and federal funding in April, 1986, for adult education programs for the unemployed. Since the school year 1982-1983 the vocational-technical school has held evening classes for unemployed adults, but in 1985 twelve of the regular daytime classes with vacant seating were opened to the unemployed. The courses included carpentry, health occupations, electronics, and welding."' Because of declining enrollments, the operating committee of the school opened its regular daytime classes to adults on a tuition basis. The program continues in 1987-1988 with students and adults learning occupational skills together and enjoying the opportunity to learn from each other. Mr. Polojac, director of AVTS, reports that the arrangement is economically efficient and mutually beneficial to the older and younger students.