PULASKI (WSLS 10) - Pulaski County is making changes this coming school year to help students be more prepared to enter the workforce in the New River Valley.
During a joint meeting Monday night between the school board and the board of supervisors, leaders unveiled a plan to include cyber security, fishery and wildlife management and internships into the career and technical curriculum.
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There are projected to be 300 new cyber security jobs in the New River Valley by 2022.
Right now, 54 percent of Pulaski County households earn less than $50,000 a year, compared to 39 percent statewide.
School leaders believe these program changes could help reverse that trend.
"So many students do not go to college," said superintendent Kevin Siers. "So many of these jobs, you do not have to have a college degree to start out making $40,000 to $50,000Â a year."
The two boards also discussed plans to build a new consolidated middle school. The school board is expected to select an architectural firm by the end of December.
The boards also expressed support for allowing counties to collect a cigarette tax that would be used by the school systems. This idea was presented to the General Assembly in previous years, but struck down.