CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education has announced the new vision for its Southshore campus.
The campus, located at 6945 Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, formerly housed the Lake County Office of Education's alternative education programs.
Those programs were relocated to the Hance Education Center on Argonaut Road in Lakeport last year in an effort to consolidate programs and spending.
The Clearlake campus is now home to two exciting programs: The Creativity School and the Career Technical Education/College-Going Initiative Department.
“These programs enable us to fully utilize this facility,” said LCOE Senior Director Brock Falkenberg. “We are pleased to be able to provide additional jobs and services in our Southshore communities.”
The Career Technical Education/College-Going Initiative Department is working to bring expanded opportunities for learning to Lake County with future programs such as a certified nursing assistant course, medical assistant course and a phlebotomy course.
The Clearlake campus is also home to the new Community Computer Lab. High school students and adults can take classes on computer programs and tutorials on basic skills.
The lab also offers practice exams and customizable lessons for a variety of assessments, including GED, SAT, CBEST and more.
Students may choose to take scheduled classes or work independently for a flat fee of $25 per month.
Starting in January, this facility will become the sole testing site for the GED as it converts to a computer-based exam.
WorkForce Lake also is offering services out of the Clearlake campus and will be working with LCOE to help local communities with their educational and employment needs.
For more information on any of these opportunities, contact Tammy Serpa at 707-995-9523.
The Creativity School provides educational opportunities for students who have emotional difficulties and struggle in school, helping them build upon their strengths that often lie in areas that are not typically emphasized in the classroom.
Robotics, growing a garden, raising chickens and selling eggs are among the activities planned.
“Our new school draws on the universal strength of creativity through project-based learning, the arts, and technology to re-engage students in academic and entrepreneurial experiences in creative, meaningful ways,” according to Dr. Ruth Aldrich, LCOE senior director of SELPA & Student Services.
“For example, for this summer’s Ocean Odyssey thematic unit, our students took on the roles of project manager, architect, engineer, carpenter, and accountant and designed and built bridges out of toothpicks and full-size boats using only duct tape, cardboard and plastic bottles,” Aldrich said.
She added, “Ultimately, our vision for the Creativity School is for students to gain the skills they need to make positive, healthy choices and successfully return to their home school with a renewed love of learning.”
For more information on the Creativity School, contact Principal Melissa Webb at 707-995-9523.