Western Area Career System

Western Area Career System is a career and technical consortium of 15 schools located in West Central Illinois.  We enhance student's professional skills and provide students with the best possible career preparation.

The Western Area Career System is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students and staff.  All persons with COVID-like symptoms are highly encouraged to be tested for COVID.

Students/Staff tested positive for COVID:

• The student/employee must stay home for a minimum of five days after the first day of symptoms or the specimen collection date from positive viral test for asymptomatic persons 

• Individuals may return to school after five days if asymptomatic or if fever-free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours, diarrhea/vomiting have ceased for 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved, and any coughing has significantly subsided. The updated ISBE/IDPH guidance provides that individuals may return after 5 days if they have consistent masking upon return. It is recommended that when returning to school after 5 calendar days, the individual will be encouraged but not mandated to wear a mask at all times and, to the extent possible, maintain 6 feet apart from anyone when eating/mask is off. 

Student/staff has COVID-Like Symptoms: 

• A student or employee may be sent home from school if he/she is exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms. The student/employee will be permitted to return to school as follows:  

  • Provide the school a negative COVID-19 test result which will confirm the symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19. Home tests are allowed. The individual should only return once symptoms have improved/resolved, including fever free for 24 hours, symptoms improving and until 24 hours after diarrhea and vomiting have ceased; 

  • OR  a student/employee can provide a note from his/her treating physician confirming the symptoms are not related to COVID-19 and stating the student/employee is cleared to return to school. Student/employee should only return once symptoms have improved/resolved, including fever free for 24 hours, symptoms improving and until 24 hours after diarrhea and vomiting have ceased; 

o   Student/employee may return to school after a minimum of five calendar days and a maximum of 10 calendar days, provided the student/employee, when he/she returns to school, is asymptomatic and has been fever-free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours, diarrhea/vomiting have ceased for 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved, and any coughing has significantly subsided. 

When returning to school after 5 calendar days, the individual is encouraged but not mandated to wear a mask at all times and, to the extent possible, maintain 6 feet apart from anyone when eating/mask is off.

The Western Area Career System has engaged in consultation with stakeholders including students; families; school and district administrators (including special education administrators); and teachers, principals, school leaders, other educators, school staff, and their unions.  The plan is publicly available on WACS website and submitted to ISBE. 

The ESSER III use of funds plan is to catch students up in career development and a work based learning opportunity for  students.  This plan was developed by looking at the data from the CLNA.  All stakeholders were consulted in the development of the plan.  

About Us

Western Area Career System (WACS) is a non-profit educational system that was established in the mid 1980's by the Illinois State Board of Education.  Western Area Career System is one of over 50 Education for Employment Systems that provide a variety of services and benefits to school districts, serving 15 school districts in West Central Illinois.  Systems provide staff development to teachers, work with post secondary institutions to provide seamless transition to career technical programs by aligning career programs with community colleges including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs and providing programs and support services to special needs students.  Western Area Career 'system works with other organizations including Workforce Investment, Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation, Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Western Illinois University, two community colleges (Carl Sandberg College and Spoon River College) and employers in the area to meet labor market needs.

Career Technical classes incorporate common core standards into their programs.  WACS envisions the development of high quality programs and services which meet labor market standards and provides instruction in foundational technical skills and human service occupations.  All programs should prepare students with technological and academic skills along with teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills to meet the needs of the workforce of tomorrow.  In October 2013 WACS purchased cc sparks for all districts to provide early career develop concepts and foster critical thinking skills.

Western Area Career System not only provides support through programs, but also provide career information by providing speakers, cooperative education programs and Career Cruising, an internet-based career exploration and planning tool to develop a career plan.  Career Cruising provides an assessment tool to assist students in identifying their career interest, skills, abilities and learning styles, career profiles, portfolios, resume builder employment guides and college and financial information.  

WACS also provides career guidance services through the  DHS/DRS grant ( Secondary Transition Experience Program (S.T.E.P.) in Fulton County.  Students attending Astoria, Cuba, Lewistown, Spoon River Valley and V.I.T.  with disabilities are referred to this program for training/placement, which aids student in preparing for the transition to post-secondary education, employment opportunities and community involvement during and after high school.  Through a variety of STEP experiences, students learn skills to become productive self-sufficient citizens.  Age 14 is the earliest a student can be referred to the program.  A referral can be made by contacting the local high school, DHS/DRS, or WACS.  When students plan ahead for adult life, they are more successful in:  Completing school, attaining employment and living independently. 

Western Area Career System's goal is to assist districts in providing high quality skill level programs to high school students.  The focus of our endeavor is to provide students the ability to gain valuable employment opportunities or to introduce students to their career goals, leading to post secondary education.