Spokane7
58°
August 18, 2010 in Opinion
Editorial: Technical education center a wise investment
Across Idaho, thousands of young men and women will set off next month to launch their four-year college careers. But for every one of them, six or seven of their contemporaries will be seeking their way into the work force along different, uncertain and often less rewarding paths.
That could be a two-year college, a military enlistment, an apprenticeship program. For many, though, the conventional institutions of learning are done with them, even though they remain unprepared for the future.
Meanwhile, certain businesses clamor for employees with skills that won’t be found in a baccalaureate program – welders, auto mechanics, construction and health care workers. Shortages in such fields restrict local economies and limit the ability of a community’s sons and daughters to build a future close to home.
In Kootenai County next Tuesday, voters in three school districts have an opportunity to address the unmet needs of both industry and youngsters not bound for college.
If patrons of the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland school districts approve, a $9.5 million plant facility levy will pay for construction of a 50,000-square foot Kootenai Technical Education Center on the Rathdrum Prairie. High school juniors and seniors would be able to enroll there, earning dual credits while learning critical skills business leaders have identified as needs.
The ballot proposal is the outcome of eight years of study and deliberation among educators and business and community leaders. As envisioned, it ultimately will adjoin a new Lakeland High School and North Idaho College’s planned professional technical education facility.
This vision reflects an awareness that jobs once dismissed as trades to be learned on the job are increasingly demanding. Yesterday’s shade-tree mechanics are no match for today’s high-tech automobiles. Competent welders have been a nationwide need for several years now.
The proposed Kootenai Technical Education Center’s 20-acre site near Lancaster Road and Highway 41 already has been provided through generous donations of land and other resources. Construction funding for the facility would cost property owners 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in the Coeur d’Alene District, 36 cents in Lakeland and 40 cents in Post Falls (Post Falls patrons would merely be replacing an expiring levy).
The purpose here is to pair meaningful learning opportunities with demonstrated workplace needs. Some studies indicate the availability of this kind of training keeps would-be dropouts in school.
The measure needs 55 percent approval in each district to pass. It’s a solid investment in the future, and one that voters should approve.
Don’t fudge fish standard 
Arch_Druid on August 18 at 5:44 a.m.
Besides the fact that given the economy, KTEC would be unaffordable, the local North Idaho College already has such courses. This is basically an education in redundancy.
The S-R could have done a bit more research and instead discussed how fiscal responsibility could be implemented. If you already have the classrooms and courses, you don’t need to build a separate and dedicated institution that simply teaches the same technical courses. Further, and expect the taxpayers to pay for it.
I’ll have to disagree with this “investment” because I don’t think it is wise at this time.
Spokane_Citizen on August 18 at 6:09 a.m.
Arch Fool….those programs are maxed out on enrollment. Why don’t you do some research?
I’m always happy when Idahoans put the thumbs down on educational advancement for north Idaho. Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot! Toothless, and poorly educated, is definitely not the way to go through life, son.
greyhound2 on August 18 at 6:45 a.m.
If they wanted to be fair with this election, they could follow the recently approved Election Consolidation Act and schedule the election for November, when people normally vote instead of some off-the-wall date in August, where the only people who will show up will be about 15 agency employees.
mikeln on August 18 at 8:14 a.m.
These types of programs are good. The industries that use these type of workers should pay a little to help offset the costs. Will these types of jobs qualify a person to buy a home?
oneanddone on August 18 at 8:41 p.m.
No decent business will look at KTEC and think, “Wow - ready to work employees.” Ain’t gonna happen. If you vote for this you’re an imbecile. The only idiots who think this is worth it are those morons like SpokaneCitizen who don’t have to pay for it. Stick to your own issues rummy.
Spokane_Citizen on August 19 at 6:17 a.m.
oneanddone, keep up the good work of cultivating an ignorant workforce in Idaho….we appreciate having a competitive edge here in Washington!