An automotive technology program is coming to the Regional Rural Technical Center at LaHarpe.
USD 257 board members agreed to start the program next fall in partnership with Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia, citing high demand for such training in this area.
The program will be the same as the FHTC auto program in Garnett, which brings in students from around the region and typically has a waiting list.
Iola High School has sent several students to the Garnett program over the past two years as have schools in Humboldt, Colony, Chanute and Erie. Several students, however, dropped the class because of the long commute to Garnett, saying they would prefer the program were closer to home.
“I get emails from other school counselors asking us about it,” Melissa Stiffler, Career and Technical Education Coordinator, said. “They’ve got students ready to go.”
In fact, Stiffler told the board members that as they were discussing the program’s merits she had just received a text from someone in another district asking if the board had made a decision.
“I can enroll our students anytime. It’s the other schools that need an answer.”
Also waiting for an answer at Monday night’s meeting were representatives from FHTC.
Kim Dhority, dean of instructional services, and Steve Loewen, vice president of instructional services, were on hand to talk about the program and answer questions. Brett Pope, instructor at Garnett, also stopped by to talk to the board.
FHTC officials will now start advertising for an instructor. Dhority said she was confident they could hire a well-qualified instructor.
IHS Principal Scott Carson thanked the board for the unanimous vote to start the program next fall. He said the high school’s graduation rate has improved in recent years because the district is able to offer a variety of programs.
“I believe this will be as popular as welding,” he said, referring to the RRTC’s flagship program.
DEMAND for auto technicians is high, Dhority and the other FHTC representatives said.
“There’s a lot of interest down in this area,” Dhority said.
“Our desire is to meet the needs where we can,” Loewen added.
“There aren’t other automotive programs around here, so that’s where we can help out.”
