Tehachapi School Board Update

Much activity on Monroe campus

Monroe Principal Steve Bsharah assisted by Jaime Lopez and Brittany McCalman updated the School Board on the year's activities at the Monroe campus including Monroe Continuation High School, Tehachapi Independent Learning Academy (TILA), the Adult School and Cerro Coso Community College. All programs operate out of the Monroe facility.

Monroe is focusing on attendance this year, using letters and the School Resource Officer to meet with parents. They have had guest speakers from the US Navy and trade schools to assist students with long term plans. Representatives from the military have held workshops to teach students how to read enlistment documents. Seven students have met graduation requirements and one of them is going into the Navy. Bsharah said that Tehachapi organizations have made about $72,700 in scholarship money available including $14,000 from Airstreams and other large grants and donations from the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and many other civic organizations.

Tehachapi Independent Learning Academy (TILA) will have 13 students graduating with the Tehachapi High School seniors. TILA currently has 16 K-6 students, 14 middle school students and 59 high school students.

Jaime Lopez reported on the Adult School which currently has between 60 and 70 students ranging in age from 18 to 65. The Adult School offers Adult Basic Education, English and Math Remedial courses and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) which offers a 100-500 hour program to make students employable. CTE Pathways is being developed and the district hopes to ad Culinary Arts and Welding next year.

Cerro Coso Community College is currently offering 25 courses in Tehachapi and projects an enrollment of about 300 students. Tehachapi is their largest and youngest satellite campus and offers CTE Pathways and General Education courses.