COUNTYWIDE : 2 Districts to Share Vocational Funding

Board members of the Ventura County superintendent of schools office have approved a plan that would allow the Moorpark and Ojai unified school districts to share nearly $25,000 in federal funding for vocational education programs.

The two school districts have filed a joint application for the funding from the federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Funding program. Although county schools officials have approved the plan, state education officials will make the final decision on whether the districts get the money.

Under the program, students would be encouraged to select majors in vocational areas and receive academic credit toward graduation for courses taken in those areas, officials said.

“A student taking a course in business accounting may get some credit in math,” said Ojai school district Supt. Andrew Smidt. “A student taking a course in auto shop may get some credit in science or math.”

The districts will design the program together but administer it separately, Moorpark Assistant Supt. Charles L. Smith said. The districts would divide the money about equally, he said.

Moorpark and Ojai had to file jointly for the special funds because neither district qualified on its own. To qualify for the money, a school district must have a minimum number of low-achieving students, said Jim Compton, coordinator for vocational education for the county schools office.