Talks are continuing to create a career and technical education program for Macomb School District 185.
“It is a work in progress,” said Superintendent Patrick Twomey. “I had a really good meeting with the city and MAEDCO and Spoon River (College) about their desire to have this be a joint effort but a large effort.”
He also wants input from the community’s manufacturing firms, such as Pella Corporation, NTN Bower Corporation, and Yetter Farm Equipment & Manufacturing.
Twomey would like the building for the program to be on the high school campus. The cost of such a facility is not yet known. He said funding could come from the district’s fund balances and by bonding against the revenue the school district can expect from a new wind farm that will be built in McDonough County.
He would like to see progress on the project “at a relatively rapid pace.”
“The board is committed to getting CTE in place for our students. That’s their top priority,” Twomey said.
The program is for students who plan to work in a trade after graduating and need hands-on skills. The facility could provide training for a wide variety of occupations, such as plumbers, electricians, mechanics, auto body repair, and even positions in the healthcare industry.
Twomey has said the training could encourage students to stay in Macomb after they graduate from high school.
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