Some students are upset after learning a program at their vo-tech school near DuBois will soon close down.

One family wants the school to re-consider, but the school says there just isn’t enough interest in this particular program.

“We are not sure exactly what’s going on and our instructor’s away in training,” says junior Michaela Herndon.

Herndon is upset the Protective Services program or “shop” will close. Its goal is to prepare students for police, fire, EMS, and military careers

“The P.T. that we do prepares us for the basic training. It makes it a lot easier,” says Herndon.

“They didn’t give us the chance to voice our opinion. They didn’t give us any notification,” says parent Raechelle Herndon.

Raechelle says the program’s helped her 17-year-old grow.

“She wasn’t as strong when she first came in. She was very soft and mild-speaking and now she’s learned to have a voice and to support others and to think of other people other than herself,” says Raechelle Herndon.

Jeff Tech says it teaches for high-priority occupations listed by the North Central Workforce Board, and police and military aren’t on it.

“We have to continually stay relevant to the demands of the area,” says Jeff Tech director Barry Fillman.

Plus, Fillman says the shop has only 12 students, while other programs like welding and fabrication have 40, so they have to use staff for the greater need.

“The enrollment is the biggest piece and demand, and so we have two programs, one that we’ve had to turn kids away from,” says Fillman.

“We know of people who are trying to get in next year including my son, but he was accepted and his friend was not accepted saying they were already full,” says Raechelle Herndon.

“There’s a bunch that wanted to be part of our shop, but were placed in their second choice,” says Michaela Herndon.

The school says instructor Troy Conrad will be kept on half-time next year to finish out with six students in Protective Services.

“We did sit down with each of the grade levels, administration, and guidance and talked to them about what their options were. For the juniors and seniors, there will be no change,” says Fillman.

Michaela says after next year she wants to join the Air Force as a K-9 handler or in crime scene investigation.