Genie Industries, Herald,Moses Lake School District stand behind project

GRANT COUNTY — Public and business input is sought for a potential advanced training center designed for Grant County youth.

Gene Sharratt, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Washington State University, is conducting a study to determine whether a skills center is feasible for Grant County. If a center is built, the state would provide funding.

The center would prepare high school juniors and seniors for careers tailored toward the local business community's needs, much like Chelan County's North Central Technical Skills Center. Sharratt plans to survey school administration, students, parents and business owners during his visit to learn what programs are in demand. A workshop is also planned for the community.

If the state Legislature appropriates funding for the project, classes could start as early as fall 2007, with the center fully operational in fall 2008, Sharratt said.

On Wednesday, Sharratt stopped by the Columbia Basin Herald office to seek Publisher Harlan Beagley's perspective on programs the community could benefit from.

Beagley said the community needs a language center. He envisions the skills center offering an English program more intensive than language programs offered at the high school. Classes at the skills centers are typically three to four hours long.

Proficiency in English would improve learning in other subject areas, and students with barriers to their education would intermingle with gifted students at the center, which could make additional positive impact in their lives, Beagley said.

In addition to meeting with The Herald, Sharratt met with Genie Industries and the Moses Lake School District, among other community stakeholders.

Operations Manager for Genie Industries George Santiago said the personnel Genie needs include welders, painters, material handlers and industrial maintenance personnel. Genie has roughly 70 job positions unfilled.

"If you look at the portfolio of courses that the skills center offers in other communities, there's a lot of opportunity for them to bring something to Grant County that a lot of employers in this community can use," Santiago said.

The program shows students they don't need to move to find a decent job. They can find decent-wage jobs in Grant County, he said.

Moses Lake School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut said he stands behind the project. Currently, district students are limited in their choice of technical skills courses, and the center would expand the number of offerings, Chestnut said. He envisioned a popular program, such as the video production class, becoming a skills center offering.

Currently, 57 students from Grant County travel to the North Central Technical Skills Center in Wenatchee.

Students who complete the program earn a certificate or decide to move onto higher education opportunities, Sharatt said.

Washington currently has 10 skills centers. Four other new centers are being considered along with Grant County, all located in western Washington.

The Herald plans to provide updates on workshop and survey availability, said Beagley.

To provide feedback for the study, contact Sharratt at 509-674-9776.