The Pinellas County School District may open a new high school in 2017.
Career Academies of Seminole could transition into the standalone Career Academies of Seminole Technical High School if the School Board moves forward with a draft proposal unveiled at its workshop Tuesday.
About 380 students from Osceola Fundamental, Seminole and Largo high schools currently travel to CAS every day for two periods of technical classes. Under the proposed model, the technical high school would enroll 600 full-time students in grades nine through 12 by 2020.
All CAS Tech students would be enrolled in one of five career academies, and courses would be taught using a "personalized learning" curriculum, with classes tailored toward their interests. Students also would have the ability to be dual-enrolled at St. Petersburg College and Pinellas Technical College. The school would have minor sports teams, but students looking for a larger athletic program could participate at other schools.
The school also plans to add programs for horticulture, practical nursing and marine mechanics. Students who graduate would earn a high school diploma and a certification in their career academy.
"Our intent is to provide students with a very clear postsecondary pathway," said Mark Hunt, district executive director for career technical and adult education.
The technical high school would be treated as district application program, so no students would be zoned to go there. Districtwide applications are projected to open in time for the 2017-18 school year.
But before the high school begins its marketing and recruitment campaigns, it must first grow its campus. The district is seeking $7 million for a new student services building with classroom space and a cafe and kitchen as well as a remodeling of its current building to create more vocational and lab space.
If the board approves construction, the school would begin hiring additional staff.
School Board Chairwoman Linda Lerner was quick to voice her concerns over busing, saying students from across the county would need to find a way to get to the school.
Hunt said the district will have to look into transportation options for students living outside of the mid-county application area. Prospective students within the area would be able to use the existing arterial bus routes that service Osceola Fundamental High.
Overall, district officials seemed to support the proposal Tuesday. CAS director Barbara Clare, who is poised to be principal of the high school, shared her ambitions for community involvement and partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
"I think it's timely, and I think we can bring out some unique opportunities for students who haven't found their niche in a traditional high school," she said.
Contact Colleen Wright at cwright@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8643. Follow @Colleen_Wright.