New Skills Center coming to Walla Walla
WALLA WALLA -There's no shortage of sawdust as students build things like tables and chairs at Walla Walla High School.
More than 11 million dollars from the state will build a new technical skills center as a part of a joint effort between the school district and Walla Walla Community College.
"The college early committed some land on our campus to the skills center which will be released to the school district through a long term very low cost lease”, says Jim Peterson, Vice President of Walla Walla Community College.
Juniors and seniors from Walla Walla, Lincoln and other regional high schools will have the chance to learn skills in construction, welding and health occupation among others.
The exposure is supposed to help them decide if they want to follow one of these career paths.
"You also might get kids that are into in depth program and find out this isn't what I want to take. So, then they aren't paying to go to college and then learn when they are 20 that this isn't what I want to do, I rather have them learn it at 17 or 18”, says superintendent Mick Miller.
"We have a drastic shortage of skilled workers in our country even with high unemployment, skilled workers are in short supply, education needs to shorten the pathway to jobs and careers for those students”, says Peterson.
It will be a 36 thousand square foot facility when done.
Giving students like these a lot more space to work.
The New Skills Center will open to students the 2013 - 2014 school year.
It will be a branch campus of the Kennewick School District's Tri-Tech Skills Center.
More than 11 million dollars from the state will build a new technical skills center as a part of a joint effort between the school district and Walla Walla Community College.
"The college early committed some land on our campus to the skills center which will be released to the school district through a long term very low cost lease”, says Jim Peterson, Vice President of Walla Walla Community College.
Juniors and seniors from Walla Walla, Lincoln and other regional high schools will have the chance to learn skills in construction, welding and health occupation among others.
The exposure is supposed to help them decide if they want to follow one of these career paths.
"You also might get kids that are into in depth program and find out this isn't what I want to take. So, then they aren't paying to go to college and then learn when they are 20 that this isn't what I want to do, I rather have them learn it at 17 or 18”, says superintendent Mick Miller.
"We have a drastic shortage of skilled workers in our country even with high unemployment, skilled workers are in short supply, education needs to shorten the pathway to jobs and careers for those students”, says Peterson.
It will be a 36 thousand square foot facility when done.
Giving students like these a lot more space to work.
The New Skills Center will open to students the 2013 - 2014 school year.
It will be a branch campus of the Kennewick School District's Tri-Tech Skills Center.
