But Growth Would Mean The Facilities Would Have To Move

The public school system in Newport News, VA, is considering an expansion of its Aviation Academy, but the move of the program that would be necessary to accommodate the growth has some parents and at least one school board member upset.

The programs is currently located at the old terminal of Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport, with regular academic classes held at Denbigh High School. The board proposed moving the program to the Denbigh Professional Center. The move would allow enrollment at the Academy to increase to 450 students, according to information presented at the Newport News School Board meeting.

The Daily Press newspaper reports that some parents and at least one school board member are not happy with the process that was used to make the decision to move the program. Barbara Barr, who is the mother of a student in the Academy, said parents were notified about the plan the day of the meeting, and said during public comments that the current location at the airport best serves the students involved.

The program's website describes it as "a specialized four-year program to prepare highly motivated and successful high school students for a rewarding and well paying career in engineering technology with an emphasis on aviation and computers. The standards are high at the Aviation Academy, and every effort is made to provide a caring, disciplined environment where students are given the opportunity to excel and reach their goal with minimal classroom disruptions. The technology courses provide challenging subject material to enhance students' reading, writing, science and math skills."

FMI: http://avi.nn.k12.va.us/