Oxford High School will be introducing a CTE course next school year called the Drone Program. This course is being put into place and run by Jivaro Jones and Director of Workforce and Community Development Duncan Gray. Since hearing about the program, they have been preparing to implement it.
“Jones has been the one who really had the energy with it [the Drone Program],” Gray said. “I knew it was an opportunity or possibility, so over the last year we have talked about it and discussed all the ideas or things around it, and it has come together nicely.”
The program will be conducted just like a normal class on a schedule. This will be a part of everyday for thos e involved.
“It is going to be just like a CTE class where they will take course one in the fall and course two in the spring,” Gray said. “It will be structured in a way where the first three days in a week you are working on preparation for the licensing test. And then the last day or two you would build it or learn the parts or fly the drone.”
Students will have to take their part 107 exam in order to be able to fly the drones. Once passing the exam they will get to take the class in which they will learn many things about the drone technology.
“The official name is Unmanned Aerial Systems Program, and it will allow high school students to gain experience in flying unmanned aircrafts,” Jones said. “One really cool thing about it is that students will have an opportunity to get the part 107 license that is required for anybody flying commercially. When students complete the program, if they successfully complete that part 107 exam, they will be prepared to fly commercially. That means they could actually fly drones to make money.”
The school district believes this serves as a great opportunity that could develop into even more possibilities in the future. In addition to this, it could help our school take bigger strides than others.
“The overall idea is that we want Oxford High School students to be competitive and have the skills that it takes to not only be successful, but stand out amongst other people from other school districts,” Vice Principal Jon Ferguson said. “We want our students to have the absolute best chance at a future, and this is just one other certification that we can offer that would tailor to a specific student’s interests.”
The program received donations and grants from the state to make sure it gets off to a smooth start. This will also ensure the program’s progression and stability.
“We received a $5,000 seed grant from TBA, and I am using some of our CTE budget as well as some other funds from the state to purchase the equipment to launch the program,” Gray said.
The program will now be offered to sign up for during scheduling. Gray and Jones want everyone to get this great opportunity, so they are hoping for many to sign up.
“Right now, because we anticipate there being a somewhat high interest, there will be some forms sent out for the students to sign up,” Jones said. “One of the requirements is a student would have to be 16 years old by May of that school year because the part 107 assessment requires that students be 16 before they can take that assessment.”
The program will give many students a great opportunity in life. It will provide them with a talent that could in return make them money in the future if they pursue a job in this field.
“I think that it is a very relevant skill that kids could have nowadays,” Ferguson said. “You could go and work part-time for sports teams or go to the Mississippi Delta and contract out and work for farmers. Many different people fly drones, so there is a lot of opportunity out there, and now with new regulations that you have to be licensed to fly these things, this is a unique opportunity for kids to be able to get that certification.”
