Pima County’s new technical-education district is gaining students–but little community involvement

September 4, 2008

By hammersmith

[Source: Dave Devine, Tucson Weekly] — Established by Pima County voters only two years ago, the Joint Technological Education District (JTED) already has something in common with more traditional school districts: Hardly anyone wants to serve on its school board. At the same time, enrollment in JTED classes has blossomed. There were approximately 12,700 high school students taking career and technical-education courses before JTED’s inception; the current figure exceeds 17,200.

Meanwhile, the initial school board appointed to oversee the operation of the new district has been scrambling to keep up. “We’ve kind of been flying by the seat of our pants,” admits JTED board member Alex J