Dr. Marvin Hunt is a busy fellow these days, but he made time to give members of the Lawrence Central Rotary an update on work underway to establish the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center. This effort is a collaboration of City of Lawrence, Douglas County, and the Chamber/Economic Development Corporation in Lawrence. The mission reads, “We are a catalyst for economic growth providing technical training to a diverse community of learners to meet the current and emerging needs of our communities and employers.”
Hunt has already done a great deal of legwork, talking to area businesses and manufacturing firms during recent months to find out what training needs they have. In particular, he found, workers need math and hydraulic principles and applications. In response, Hunt has directed the development a curriculum of short courses specific to the industries that responded to his questions. The Peaslee Technical Training Center will also provide training in employability skills such as conflict management and team work. Affiliated businesses promise to stay involved with students, greeting them as they begin their study, providing internships and other input during their programs, and explaining career options as they complete their classes. Area businesses will also provide some of the teachers for the training programs.
Because students in the Peaslee training programs will be adult learners in or entering the workforce, communication and collaboration with Lawrence Public School (USD 497) and with other technical schools and regional community colleges are key to this initiative. Community colleges in the region will bring courses and certifications to Peaslee, and the Peaslee Center will run the Auto Shop 1 and 2 classes for USD 497.
In terms of facilities, plans focus on avoiding redundancy with the Lawrence School District’s College and Career Center that will serve high school students. The two buildings will be immediately adjacent. The Peaslee Technical Training Center will have 77,000 square feet in total, using a good part of that space for construction and manufacturing shops. Heartland Works will lease some of the space as well.
The immediate priority for Hunt is marketing, branding, and a developing a “call to action.” Because the Center will open in August 2015, getting the word out to high school graduates and others interested in attending is key. Prospective students must know about the school and its programs soon in order to make their decisions and enroll this spring. Watch for a website soon!
