C Of C Board Votes To Back Career Center

An Worsement for? the ' Area Vdeational Career Center and a cali for a favorable vote Jan. 22 on related onemill and bonding propos als was made Thursday night by the board of directors of the Ann Arbor' Area Chamber of Commerce. The Education Commütee had recommended an endorsement and said if was (1) in favor of the concept of the career center, (2) supported appróval of both questions on the ballot, (3) urged voters to ballot in favor of the issues, (4) recognized the need for business and citizen involvement in the development and continuing operation of th'e career center and "therefore accepted the responsibility to continue formal and informal involvement to assure that maximum value of the center is attained for the students and the community at large." The Education Committee noted, "We have identified a responsibility of a long term nature for this Chamber of Commerce should a vocational career center become a reality. "We anticípate at this time that the responsibilites would include the development of f Tf' J (1lojig and-gnort range skill range surveys in the area: (2) assistance and curriculum development, (3) assistance in career counseling, (4) assistance in the coordination of the career center and existing area educational institutions and programs. Preparation for the job market was attainefl by only 22 per cent of the county's 13, 000 graduating high school students in the last class who rtid not go on for more schooling, said Claude Morehouse, chairman of the Education Committee. Approximately 14,000 went on for two four more years of schooling, he said. Morehouse said that Washtenaw Community College supports it because there is no corhpetitive aspect. All school districts in the county except Whitmore Lake support it, he said. "It is a bad time for a tax increase but career preparation by these students will boost unemployment and raise social welfare costs, Morehouse said. The center will relieve conditions at Pioneer and Huron Highs Schools, overcrowded programs which can not be made available to all students, he said.