For the American
The State of the Schools luncheon presented by the Moore Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by First Fidelity Bank painted a pretty picture for the future of Moore students.
Moore Public Schools superintendent Debbie Arato, Oklahoma City Community College executive vice president Dr. Jerry Steward and Moore Norman Technology Center executive director Karla Marshall gave reports.
There are 21,690 students in the Moore Public Schools this year, Arato said. Two new elementary schools, one at Santa Fe and 164th streets and N. 19th and Bryant streets will be added soon to the 30 schools already in Moore.
More than 87 percent of Moore students graduate high school, Arato said. Achievements for the students are in the 90th percentile and math and reading scores for student third - sixth grades also are in the 90th percentile.
Arato talked about Moore's Blue Ribbon School, West Junior High, and said Moore also has five Perfect API schools. They are Briarwood, Eastlake, Earlywine, Fairview and Wayland Bonds elementary schools.
Long-range plans for Moore schools include freshman centers, fine arts complexes and gymnasiums, Arato said.
The Patrons Advisory Committee meets to discuss the dress code, year round schools and electronic communication services, "cell phones," she said.
Forty percent of Moore students are in the free and reduced lunch range and that number is climbing, Arato said. More than 24,000 meals were served to the children over the summer.
Arato closed with an announcement that low-income seniors are invited to the Thanksgiving dinner, 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Moore High School.
Steward has a son that graduated from Westmoore High School and has a grandchild that attends Moore schools.
More than 14,000 students are enrolled at Oklahoma City Community College this fall, Steward said, and he expects 20,000 this year.
Fifty-seven percent of the students are Caucasian, 58 percent are female.
Forty-eight degree programs are offered at OCCC with 84 options and 19 certifications, Steward said. A health profession center opened this year and the classes were full immediately.
Many students begin their college career at OCCC and then go on to further their degrees at other universities, he said.
The college employs 1,400 with a payroll over $40 million.
Construction has begun on a visual and performing arts center that will seat 20,000 should open in 2012, he said. A family and community education center which should open a child care center in January, 2010.
"We are the first to offer high-quality, affordable child care to our students," Steward said.
Students will be able to work the child care around their schedules.
Marshall reported on the Moore Norman Technology Center which offers adult continuing education courses, business training and support services in the 39 career pathways. More than 500 high school students in Moore and Norman attend Moore Norman and more than 400 adults in the full time career classes.
Fifty percent of those students go on to earn college degrees, Marshall said. There are many courses that do not offer certifications. More than 6,000 students total attend classes at Moore Norman or take online courses.
Marshal also said 80 percent of the businesses in Oklahoma are small businesses that employ less than 50 people. Moore Norman will help the businesses get started, offer advice and many times will customize training to fit the business.
Within the last year, Moore Norman has served 661 businesses and trained 5,312 employees with more than 500 training programs.
A recent survey reported that "people are very satisfied with us," Marshall said.
