Madison Schools Leaving Southeastern Career Center

Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 9:16 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

This coming school year will be Madison Consolidated Schools' last sending students to the Southeastern Career Center in Versailles.

Southeastern Career Center photo

(Versailles, Ind.) – One of the twelve school corporation members of the Southeastern Career Center says it will cease sending students there for vocational training.

Madison Consolidated Schools will withdraw from participation in the SCC beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, the school district’s superintendent announced June 13. The move was voted on by the school board at superintendent Jeff Baker’s recommendation, The Madison Courier reports.

The career center in Versailles opened in 1966 as Indiana’s first vocational center. Besides Madison, students from the following member districts attend the SCC for technical and vocational courses: Batesville, Jac-Cen-Del, Jennings County, Lawrenceburg, Milan, Rising Sun, South Dearborn, South Ripley, Southwester, Sunman-Dearborn and Switzerland County.

This past May, more than 300 students from those districts graduated from SCC programs. After next spring, Madison Cubs will no longer be among the center's graduates.

Including transportation expenses, MCS was contributing approximately $200,000 annually to send 20 students to the career center. Studebaker also reasoned that students were spending much of their day in transit to and from the career center.

Two donors have stepped forward to provide funding for a new high school campus building, which will allow for expansion of the Cub Manufacturing and Cub Engineering programs while space freed up elsewhere will be renovated to house other vocational programs.

“Madison’s Cub Manufacturing programs and partnerships with Ivy Tech and local industries can now provide better options for Madison students. By Madison going its own way, programs can be better refined to serve local needs and prepare students for local job opportunities while also keeping them on campus where they can use the schools’ other educational opportunities,” said Studebaker.

MCS’ partnerships with local businesses and educational institutions like Ivy Tech Community College will held maintain the opportunity for students to earn certifications.

“Our goal is to provide a pathway to success for EVERY student in our district - workforce ready, two-year, four-year college, or technical certifications. Students and families have choices, and we want Madison to be their FIRST CHOICE!”

In the announcement last week, Studebaker admitted that the corporation is still looking for a solution for students enrolled in cosmetology curriculum.

Studebaker is expected to deliver a withdrawal letter to the SCC board before their meeting Wednesday, June 19.