It’s that time of year again when we start gearing up for next fall. It’s hard to believe that spring is right around the corner, but this time of year puts us in full preparation for next school year. We are currently preparing students for course registration with class meetings, a review of course requirements, and discussions about credits for graduation. Students will start the registration process for next year’s classes starting the first week of February.
Next year, students will have some new classes to choose from at MCC. A new business elective called Travel and Tourism will provide students with broad-based learning on the tasks, knowledge, and skills required within the travel, hospitality, and tourism industry. Students will learn about key hospitality issues, the development and management of tourist locations, event planning, marketing, and environmental issues related to leisure and travel. The course also examines some current and future trends in the field. A Wind and Solar Energy course will offer an overview of concepts in wind energy. If a student is considering a career in wind energy engineering, this class would be a great stepping stone. Students will also be able to learn the fundamentals of solar power as it applies to solar panel system installations. They will also learn to compare solar energy to other energy resources and explain how solar panels, or photovoltaics (PV for short), convert sunlight to electricity. In addition to these classes, we are hoping to again run our Introduction to Medical Careers course to expose students to basic concepts, techniques, and careers within the healthcare field.
This year we will also have some summer class opportunities for our students to explore. Made possible through our Achievement and Integration collaborative and dollars from Minnesota Department of Education, there are two free summer college classes available to current Sophomores and Juniors of Murray County Central and surrounding schools. A survey to gauge interest was conducted and we will be offering a Criminal Justice course (3 college credits) and an Introduction to Business course (4 college credits). These courses will be offered in conjunction with Minnesota West and taught at Marshall High School.
We are excited to offer these new opportunities for our students! Murray County Central remains committed to providing access to challenging course programing that promotes career and college readiness.
I also wanted to take a moment in this Rebel Roundup to let everyone know that we continue to look for substitute teachers at MCC. While many people may not realize it, it can be quite difficult to find substitute teachers. This year has been especially difficult with a sub shortage due to COVID risks and we have had difficulty filling teacher vacancies on some days. I want to say a special thank you to those from our community who have answered the call and helped out. When teacher vacancies are not filled our teachers have to sub during their prep period, leaving them less time to prepare for their regular classes.
To work as a substitute teacher in Minnesota you need to obtain a substitute teaching license from the state. Like other teachers in this state, you also need at least a bachelor's degree; however, it does not have to be in the teaching field (only long term subs need a teacher license). If you or someone you know meets these guidelines and are interested in subbing a couple days a week, please consider it! The current sub pay at MCC is $120 per day and $60 for 1/2 day.
The following is information to assist in obtaining a short call sub license which is needed in order to substitute teach.
To access info on the teacher licensure website:
1. Go to: https://mn.gov/pelsb/
2. Select under heading "Aspiring Educators" the Apply for a License link: “Online Licensing System” – You will need a google account to apply.
3. Follow the instructions for the new substitute license.
4. Apply to be considered for a sub at MCC at https://www.applitrack.com/murray/onlineapp/default.aspx
The general information phone number to teacher licensing at MDE is: 651-539-4200
Jake Scandrett- HS Principal