Several hundred area residents were treated to a tour of Scioto County Joint Vocational School Thursday night during the school's annual open house.

SCJVS has three components to its levels of training - high school, the 13-year program and adult-level programs.

SCJVS emphasizes the career path method of education that allows students to take courses and training custom-designed to prepare them for their future plans.

Career development programs include computer office specialist, and computer service and repair.

In the computer lab, instructors Tamie Hall and Leilia Johnson prepare students for a specific field.

“They're given the skills to work in a medical office and learn medical terms, medical coding, and medical transcription,” Hall said. “It's a 900-hour program, and when they leave here, they are ready to sit down at a desk and go to work.”

Health care programs include dental assisting, where Renea Gregory is one of the instructors.

“We offer high school and adult courses, and we prepare our students to go on to Shawnee State University for post-secondary education.” Gregory said.

Ashley Stevens is a first-year student.

“We have been learning the use of a teeth sealant, learning fluoride treatments, the anatomy of the face, mouth and neck, and the use of instruments, sterilization and making impressions,” she said.

Other health care programs include patient care technician, practical nursing and surgical technology.

For students interested in trade and industrial training, SCJVS offers industrial and constructional electricity.

“We give the students several diagrams, and then let them do the work. I come in later and put some problems in it to allow them the opportunity to find the problem, and fix it,” said electrical instructor Robert Patterson.

Students also can choose industrial maintenance, power lineman mechanic and other combinations that prepare the student for the work force.

In the service industry, options include the southern Ohio police academy and cosmetology.

Darren Cox, who teaches the criminal justice class, said he has two goals - to get his students certified through the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission, and to see them either further their education or go for further training, including private security.

Ray Belcher is a member of the board at SCJVS and has been on the board for 24 years.

“I have seen a lot of changes, and we have had a lot of programs come and go because of the change in demand,” Belcher said. “Above all else, you have to remain current.”

Visitors also saw other laboratories and classrooms including auto body, carpentry, masonry and countless other fields.

Marquita Riepenhoff, grants writer and public relations coordinator, credits the relationships with area schools to the work done by the school's director, Stan Jennings.

“He has done a really good job of communicating with schools. Working here watching his concern for students and staff, it is easy to see why we are so successful,” Riepenhoff said. “It is very important to him to work with the home schools. He really goes after it to promote our school and facilities.”

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.