MILL HALL — A presentation for a proposed Homeland Security CTC program was discussed at a Keystone Central school board voting session.

The voting session, which was held on Thursday night at Central Mountain High School featured a lengthy presentation by Kurt Lynch, director of KCSD’s Career and Technology Education program.

According to Lynch, the program would address a “community need.”

“There is a shortage of first responders, volunteers and career personnel,” Lynch said. “We need to stabilize emergency services in the county and surrounding areas. We need to backfill careers in emergency services and law enforcement, identify economic and workforce needs within the community. This is one of them that is in a lot of need.”

Lynch said the program will greatly benefit the community. He said it will provide certifications and qualifications for students to enter the workforce following high school graduation. It will also, he said, provide them with exposure to real world experience and foster interest in further education.

Additionally, he said, the program would provide an employment pool of trained individuals and volunteers. It would also foster open communication and community partnerships between educators, students, professional services and volunteers.

Lynch believes that there would also be economic benefits for Clinton County as students would stay in the area. Their employment, he said, would offer “community stabilization.”

“This program has three funnels, basically. It’s EMT, it’s fire protection and criminal justice and police services,” Lynch said.

To see if there is interest in the program, the district conducted a survey of current students. Lynch provided the results of that survey, which suggests that students would take part in such a program.

At Central Mountain High School, there were 397 responses in grades 9 through 11. A total of 60 students said they were likely to take the program. At Central Mountain Middle School, there were 210 responses in grades seventh and eighth. A total of 28 students said they were likely to take the program.

The district also surveyed students at Bucktail High School. There were 44 responses in grades seventh through 11. A total of eight students said they were likely to take the program.

KCSD superintendent Dr. Jacquelyn Martin believes the Homeland Security CTC program would fill a void for the district and in the community.

“It makes more sense to offer the correct program for what students’ interests are and also to fit the needs of the community,” Martin said. “It wouldn’t hurt any of the other programs. It would help alleviate some over-scheduling.”

There is a cost however. Martin said that the program would cost “around $100,000.”

“There are some very specific criteria that are expected for any instructor in the career and technology field,” Martin said.

There was no action taken on the program.

The school board will meet again at 6:30 p.m. for a work session on Thursday, Dec. 1 at CMHS. The meeting is open to the public and will also be streamed live through the district’s website.