Funding approved for skills center design

COLUMBIA BASIN - The Grant County Skills Center is closer to becoming a reality, now that the state approved design funding.

Moses Lake School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut announced the state Legislature included $927,000 in the capital budget for the architectural design of the Grant County Skills Center.

"It's the important next step," Chestnut said.

Chestnut and Career and Technical Education Director Christine Armstrong met Friday with Assistant Superintendent of Career and College Readiness for the state superintendent's office, John Aultmann to start working on the process of designing the facility.

Chestnut noted the facility could be located on Moses Lake School District property near the high school. Students from the high school could walk to the facility and students from other school districts could access the facility from Yonezawa Boulevard, he said.

If built, the skills center would provide educational training for high school juniors and seniors in high-demand fields, as determined by students, educators, community members and businesses.

The unofficial cost estimate to build the skills center is $24 million, according to Chestnut.

"(Construction is) not guaranteed," Chestnut said. "It's not a package deal or anything, but it certainly increases the chances."

Gene Sharratt, who conducts program assessments and evaluations while serving as director of the Washington State University Superintendent Training Program, said there is more good news for proponents of the facility.

The Legislature approved the sale of bonds as part of the capital budget and funding for the skills center was included in the bonds, Sharratt said.

"In other words, we don't have to go to the Legislature next year and say, 'Is it possible for you to come up with $24 million dollars from somewhere to help us out?'" Sharratt said.

The Legislature would need to approve the allocation, he said.

He said he is optimistic funding will be approved if organizers continue their good work.

High school student opinions toward the skills center were collected in 2006, revealing the attitudes of students at 10 school districts in Grant County and at Othello High School in Adams County.

In Moses Lake more than 75 percent of freshman, juniors and seniors and 65 percent of sophomores were in favor of the skills center.

In Othello, 66 percent of freshman, sophomores and juniors expressed favor toward the skills center.

Of Quincy students, juniors expressed the most favor toward a skills center at 85 percent, while sophomores were 65 percent in favor.

More than 70 percent of all Ephrata High School students were in favor of the skills center, with juniors showing the most favor at 78 percent.

In addition to collecting data from high school students, organizers collected surveys from businesses, parents and community members, Sharratt said.

He said the support of the groups helped get funding approved through the Legislature.

Chestnut noted Sen. Jan/a Holmquist and Representatives Judy Warnick and Bill Hinkle showed support for the skills center.

"All three of them were very supportive of the project and helped get it approved," he said.