MINUTES-Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Agriculture- Advisory Committee Meeting
Cascade High School-Ag Room
Attenders: Andy Sudkamp, Jeannie Steele, Tammy Price, Ralph Quaas, Duane Diede, Lauren Hadley
Community Chairperson-Ralph Quaas (to help Teacher Liason-Tammy facilitate meetings)
DISCUSSION Jackson High School has no agriculture related classes. Suggested they should have related to biogenetics or similar Science/Horticulture type class.
Horticulture Class (district-wide) cannot be used for a Science credit anymore since it does not provide enough WASL-related science. It can only be an Occupational Credit or an Elective.
EHS Horticulture-numbers plummeted this year. Andy is teaching 2-Horticulture & 3 Biology classes.
EHS Floral Design- numbers down, but still have 3 class periods, but none are completely filled like in past years. Special Education teacher, Jim Schmidt (SC-1 class) is working with Tammy & Adrians Flowers for a short internship program for special education students who have been in my class.
CHS Horticulture-numbers down, smaller classes with a lot of ELL & SpEd students. To help with costs, Jeannie & Carl Fender (CTE Director) plan on shutting down the larger greenhouse on campus and use the smaller newer one. Then eventually start over with a newer cost efficient structure.
WASL classes across all CTE courses are cutting into total numbers, not just in Ag classes. The goal is to only have a couple of year slump in numbers. Then as more students are passing the WASL, there will be more of a need for our elective classes.
COMMUNITY BUSINESS TRENDS MAE Landscaping-synthetic lawns, putting greens for residential areas, outdoor living spaces, baby boomers willing to pay for instillation instead of do-it-yourself projects.
Ralph Quaas-sold City Floral, new owner has business experience/knowledge but not floral experience. It was moved over to Wetmore just a couple blocks south of EHS.
COMMUNITY BUSINESS TRAINING MAE Landscaping-has a foreman & Spanish-speaking trainers. Mainly willing to hire anyone who is willing to learn and willing to work with a good attitude. Everything else can be taught.
Ralph Quaas-training process in floral business is mainly copy an example and repeat. They lose a lot of designers to grocery stores where they can make more money.
Upcoming meetings:
Tuesday, February 27, 2007-EHS (Tammy’s Room-Bldg B-230 on south side of auditorium)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007-Legion Park (Andy’s Park Room)
