With a state-of-the-art nursing wing about to open and its largest first year class of nurses ever, BridgeValley Community and Technical College President Casey Sacks looks to keep the momentum going.
“(We're) just trying to figure out ways to help high school students gain access to a nursing program earlier than they might have otherwise," Sacks said.
In that effort, the idea for the Workforce Initiative for Nurses, or WIN Academy, was born as BridgeValley put in its application to become a charter school in 2023.
"Thinking about putting one more thing on the existing high school system just really felt like a lot so we said, 'Let's try it,' " Sacks said. "Let's prove that this can work and if area high schools want to partner with us later, we are really open to those partnerships. We want this to work best for West Virginia students."
If accepted as a program, the school will take up to 30 12th grade students from its 10-county region and allow them to start nursing classes or prerequisites if needed. After a year as a 12th grade student and one more year at BridgeValley, the program aims to ready pupils for the nursing field.
“We don’t want this to be giant," Sacks said. "We’re really interested in sort of a boutique program for just a few families that say this is really the right thing for my kid. 'I have a son or daughter that would be a fabulous nurse and they’re just ready.' "
The other applicant is the M.E.C.C.A. Business Learning Institute that would be located in Berkeley County starting in 2024.
It would put a heavy emphasis on business for middle and high school students. Those with the state’s charter board are excited about what the applicants bring to the table.
“Both schools are very focused on workforce development and career outcomes and I suspect there will be many parents that are interested in those options," executive director James Paul said.
Paul believes that despite an ongoing legal battle over charter schools and their constitutionality headed to the West Virginia Supreme Court, the board will continue to push forward until an official decision is made.
It was argued in circuit court that the state's charter school law is unconstitutional.
The argument was that it allows the approval of public charter schools without the direct involvement of voters. Charter schools receive public funding from the state's public education system and are given more flexibility in how they operate. In exchange, they could lose their right to operate if they fail.
An injunction was first ordered in Kanawha County Circuit Court, but a stay was granted by the West Virginia Supreme Court in February to allow the schools to start operating this fall until a state Supreme Court decision is handed down.
“We’re proceeding to evaluate these applications and we’ll respond to any legal developments and we’ll comply with anything we need to do, but we’re focused on executing the charter law to a T," Paul said.
From here for new applicants, it is a 90-day process before decisions are made. Sacks reports with the high demand for nurses, especially in this region, thinking outside the box is a necessity.
“We really do hope that this gets student into the nursing career sooner," Sacks said. "It’s just such a phenomenal opportunity. If you’re a student and you know you want to be a nurse, this could be a way to accelerate your career path.”
Right now, there are four charter schools operating in the state. The West Virginia Academy is just outside of Morgantown. The Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy is located outside of Kearneysville. The West Virginia Virtual Academy and the Virtual Prepartory Academy of West Virginia are two virtual offerings. Nitro Prep Academy is in the works and on the hunt for a new facility.