Lake Chelan School District moves to expand educational opportunities in Agriculture Education

CHELAN – Continuing to acknowledge the importance of agriculture in the Lake Chelan Valley, Chelan High School (CHS) has been awarded a $47,000 agriculture education grant, sponsored by the Washington Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization.
"Many of our students in the district are already heavily involved with our vibrant agriculture industry," LCSD Superintendent Brad Wilson observed. "Instead of traveling out of the area to further their specialized studies in ag and allied fields, we want them to learn specialized skills in our high school programs."
"We strive to have balanced options for students in all our programs," Wilson added. “This is a technology and laboratory equipment grant, to aid our plant-science and animal-science curriculum. Our high school teachers are excited about the additional support this will provide."
Agriculture classes currently taught by Amanda Mattingly, who authored the grant, include Intro to Agriculture, Floral Design, Plant Science, and Animal Science. Additionally, Randy Gleasman currently teaches Agriculture Mechanics and Small Engine Repair as part of the departmental offerings.
"Agriculture has emerged into the twenty-first century needing workers who are proficient in the STEM studies as well as the traditional skills," CHS Associate Principal/Career & Technical Education Director Scott Granger remarked. "The modern orchard, farm and field use a wide range of technology. Farming is now much more than driving a tractor or harvesting crops by hand.”
Funding from both the FFA grants and the successful school levy passed by voters this past winter will allow interested students achieve a higher level of skills that are directly job-related.
Wilson quote:
"Rural schools such as LCSD are challenged to devise a curriculum that is relevant to the local economy and still rigorous for those who may not be college-bound." said Superintendent Brad Wilson. “Schools need to adapt to the interests of students and the next wave of employees for  the agriculture industry.”

Established in 1892, Lake Chelan School District serves nearly 1,250 students with 97 percent of its students graduating in four years, according to data provided by OSPI. The district's headquarters is located at 309 E. Johnson Ave., Chelan. Telephone: 509)-682-3515, follow on Facebook or view the LCSD website at: chelanshools.org