The four teachers in the high school’s Family Consumer Science Department also gave a presentation at the board meeting Monday. The presentation was aimed at informing the board on what the department does and how students benefit.

The department serves about 750 students a year and provides a lot of hands-on projects, said Melba Cox, teacher in the department.

Parenting, culinary arts, health education, financial literacy, technology, career and employment skills are among topics taught by the department.

Collette Fisher, a teacher in the department, said a lot of those classes are a reason why some students stay in school. This is because of the interactive setup.

“Of the students I serve, many of them will stay in Ottumwa, and that means making them the best they can be,” said Fisher.