Web posted
Friday, November 21, 2008
Education tops list at Cowley First
By ROY GRABER
Courier Editor
Winfield school superintendent Marvin Estes would like to see students become better prepared for the workforce, and on Thursday morning, he asked the Cowley First economic development organization for their help.
The Cowley County Economic Development Partnership's advisory committee, which oversees Cowley First, met Thursday at Strother Field. Estes, along with Winfield High School faculty Tom Hollingsworth and Holly Minkler, talked about what the school district is doing to help prepare students for careers and ways things can be improved.
"We'd like to keep more of our youth here, if that's what they choose to do," said Estes.
The superintendent would like to connect the "pipelines" of available workforce and available jobs.
"We've invested time and funds to help connect them, but I don't feel like we're connected yet," said Estes. "We don't know what exists for jobs and opportunities."
Donna Martin, an advisory committee member from eastern Cowley County, agreed with Estes that more cooperation between the business and education communities would help with retention efforts. Estes noted that he has talked to school superintendents in the smaller county school districts, and they would also like to "latch onto the pipeline."
Estes cited Fluid Kinetics as an example of a local employer who needs workers.
"They need welders, but we're not producing the type of welders they need," said Estes.
Finding resources to "teach our teachers" how to get students the proper welding skills and certifications would be a good start, he said.
Winfield City Manger Warren Porter said that it is hard to get the teachers the proper training, and with limited budget resources, schools cannot get the students the skills they need.
"We're not going to get three really good welding instructors at three schools," said Porter.
Getting several area school districts to send students to a training center -- possibly at Cowley College -- would make more sense, Estes said. Oklahoma, Georgia and North Carolina have that kind of center, he said, and Kansas needs to catch up.
Cowley College president Dr. Pat McAtee said he would like to see more regional training centers, but with community colleges under the umbrella of the Kansas Board of Regents, sometimes they are limited with what they can do. He said he didn't know what the budget picture would be, but he expects that there will be some redistribution of existing funds.
"There will be winners and losers again," said McAtee.
County administrator LeRoy Alsup, who up until this week was handling many of the duties of the Cowley First executive director, said he would like to see more cooperation between Cowley First and the schools.
"I think it is something that will help all of Cowley County," said Alsup.
In other business, the committee:
*Heard a report from Cowley First administrative assistant Kerri Falletti, who plans to travel to Pittsburg soon for a job fair at Superior Industries.
Superior announced in August that it would close down its wheel manufacturing plant in Pittsburg -- the community's largest private employer. An estimated 600 jobs were lost.
Falletti said Cowley First representatives had made visits to Pittsburg before to talk about job opportunities for metal workers in Cowley County, and there seemed to be a good level of interest.
*Heard Heidi Hill's first report as the new executive director for the agency. Hill, who was announced as the new leader earlier this week, worked in the local economic development field during the late 1990s and was the executive director of the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce in the early part of this decade.
"I'm just looking forward to working with everybody and renewing relationships," said Hill. "I know we've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."
*Agreed to invest $250 for a cable television advertising campaign in cooperation with South Central Kansas Economic Development District. The ads will bring a Christmas message and will reach out to viewers in Cowley County, the Derby area and Reno, Kingman, Harvey and Butler counties.
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