Russ Steele
The Saturday Union (12-15-07) Jeff Pelline had an editorial on economic development with some interesting suggestions here. Jeff is a new comer to the community and to economic development in Western Nevada County. Since I have been involved before the Economic Resource Council was formed, I would like to share some of my views on local economic development and some of Jeff’s suggestions. Some of the subjects I am going to cover include turf wars, visioning, broadband, transportation, and education.
Due to the length of this article I am going to break it up in to multiple posts. This is Part Two
Jeff Wrote:
Let's ramp up, and in some cases revamp, the curriculum at Sierra College to focus on more pragmatic, vocational skills that could train our locals. We could train more students to maintain solar power systems, for example - again think "green" - but we also could train more of them as auto mechanics, construction trades people, home health care workers and other service providers.
Studies have show that business move to communities that have an existing work force that can meet their needs. In fact this is one of the prime reasons for moving to a new location. So, what trained work force do we have that would attract a green and tech company to the area. According to Dan Castles we have tapped out the available video experienced work force, requiring outside recruiting. So where is this existing green and tech knowledge work force we can promote to potential companies?
As Jeff suggested we could ramp up the curriculum. But, the training issue goes beyond the college level training. All the training program Jeff suggested are for naught if the high school is not turning our qualified entrants. Let me tell you a story.
I was writing an article Comstock’s a regional business journal on innovation in an El Dorado business park. In interviewing business owner, I ask about their challenges. All business were having problems finding qualified technicians, especially machinists in three business. Sensing another story, I investigated why there was a lack of machinist. I interviewed the Vocational Programs Manager at Sierra College, who told me they just closed their machinist program and were selling off the equipment. There were no qualified high school students who wanted to enter the program. Those that had applied were unqualified, they had not taken the required math courses. It turned out that most high schools in the area had eliminated their vocational training track, closing their auto, metal, and wood working shops. In many cases the insurance was just too high, or they could not find qualified vocational teachers.
Though we have highly rated schools in Nevada County, when my girls were at NU in the 80 and 90s the math department was failing academic audits. Not sure where it is today, but it was an eye opener when one of my straight A student daughters had to take remedial math her freshman year of college. I did some investigation and found out that the math department was weak and had failed an audit. Here is good opportunity for the Union to do some investigative reporting. Is the high schools currently math program up to standard. How may NU graduates have had to take remedial math their freshman year? How is NU preparing students to enter Sierra College technical training programs?
What good is a Sierra College vocational technical training program unless there are enough qualified high school students to enter the program?
Part One Here.
