COAL TOWNSHIP — As layoffs and outsourcing continue burdening the economy, expect vocational schools to make a comeback, says an administrator at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.
Alexander Choman, administrative director of the Coal Township school, said technical schools like his allow graduates to train for “meaningful jobs relevant to the community.”
To better serve students and the surrounding area, Choman said the school, formerly known as the Northumberland County Area Vocational-Technical School, has changed its name and is expanding programs.
“As downsizing occurs, as the corporate world and economy change, the services our students can offer after training are more important,” he said.
“Culinary arts, auto body mechanics, how do you outsource those? You have to be on the property to do them.”
The school, which opened 38 years ago, enrolls 354 high school students from Mount Carmel, Shamokin, Our Lady of Lourdes and Line Mountain. Students attend daily for about three hours and spend the rest of their time at their home schools.
The school can serve about 50 more students and wants to add evening courses for adults, since only auto body training is offered at night.
The high school students can train in 12 programs, including health occupations, cosmetology, culinary arts, computer technology, automotive repair technology and carpentry, and more are in the works.
Choman said the school plans to offer a program in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, which he called “a blossoming industry.”
Since technology and computer plants are on the rise, more facilities will need air conditioning installed and maintained to protect products, Choman said. Solar energy use will be incorporated into the program.
The school also will offer drafting and computer-aided design courses and is considering a warehouse program to teach students about shipping, receiving, bar coding, distribution and inventory.
Sarah Topolski, 18, is a senior in the culinary arts program, which she enrolled in after taking up an interest in cooking at home.
“I think it’s safe (the food industry) because there are always people out to eat and going different places, even if it’s not in this area,” said Topolski, who is optimistic about finding a job and attending a culinary school because of her technical training.
Mariah Yucha, a 17-year-old cosmetology senior at the school, said she looks forward to opening her own salon.
“If I open my own business, I won’t be worried about losing my job as long as business keeps up,” she said. “I’m happy I chose this; sometimes I think about how hard things can be.”
Choman said the students have the same concerns as other students, but they leave his school with skills for jobs in the community.
“Career technology education is one of the best kept secrets in the state,” he said. “I think career technology education will only get bigger. We’ll see a resurgence.”
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