Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four is moving ahead with plans to offer students training for a career in aerospace engineering.

Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman reported at the February board of trustees meeting that the district is in the initial planning stages for an aerospace engineering and manufacturing magnet school at Edisto High School.

There are two aerospace suppliers in Orangeburg County, Newman said following the meeting. A lot of jobs in the aerospace industry start workers off at salaries ranging from $30,000 to $60,000, he said.

What were trying to do is to address the needs of our county and community, Newman said. The district is holding discussions with local manufacturers so it can provide students with the training they need to get good jobs when they leave school, he said.

We are trying to find a way to build those skills for the students, embed the terminology for the aerospace manufacturing sector, embed soft skills and try to react to the needs that theyre asking for, Newman said.

The district has gotten a commitment from the S.C. Department of Education to help fund a new aerospace content teacher, the superintendent said.

The magnet school will not only prepare students to go on to work in the aerospace field after high school, but it will also lay a foundation for students who want to go on to four-year colleges for a degree in areas like engineering.

The district will be working on budgets and the application process as well as going to other magnet schools across the state to see how they do things, Newman said.

Edisto High was selected to house the magnet school because of its proximity to the Cope Area Career Center, he said.

Newman said he hopes to bring the new curriculum back to the board for approval in time to get the magnet school off the ground by this fall.

In other business, trustees approved an out-of-state trip for the Lockett Elementary School Junior Beta Club. The students will be competing at the National Junior Beta Club Convention in Orlando in June. They qualified to participate in the event by winning the following awards at the state convention in January: first place in Advertising Design Division I, first place in Quiz Bowl Division I, second place in Science Division I and second place in Book Battle Division II.

Trustees also unanimously approved second and final reading of the 2017-18 school calendar. Classes will begin for students on Aug. 22, 2017. The final day of the school year will be June 9. Three makeup days for inclement weather were built into the calendar: Jan. 2, March 30 and June 11.

Newman recognized Bethany Jameson, an Edisto High School student, who won the districts annual Christmas card contest.

He also recognized members of the Branchville High School Lady Jackets volleyball team who were recently named the S.C. High School League Class A champions.

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District 4 may offer aerospace engineering this fall - The Times and Democrat