Area vocational-technical school projects new image
Michael Swartz, an employee of Alpha Resources of Waynesburg, learns welding through the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute's adult education programming.
Crystal McDonald of Uniontown (right) and Jonathan Cuppett of McClellandtown, both Youth Build students taking adult education classes at the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, take notes as FCCTI instructor Steve Patchan discusses construction safety.
Dr. Edward Jeffreys, executive director of the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, shows off the new logo for the school.
Since opening its doors in 1964 as the first school of its kind in Pennsylvania, officials said the number one goal of the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School has always been to prepare people for the workforce.
Forty-seven years later, that core value remains as the school undergoes updates and advancements to create a new chemistry and project a new image, said Dr. Edward Jeffreys, executive director.
“We are not deviating from that value,” Jeffreys said. “We have been forever trying to open other doors to try to gain interest in community members and students.”
On July 1, the school’s name was officially changed to the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, one of three vocational-technical schools in the state to be deemed an institute, Jeffreys said.
The name change is one element of a multipronged approach to image enhancement, he said, noting that for years, blue collar workers weren’t well thought of and often considered lower class. However, Jeffreys said, skill-trained workers of today are no longer lower- to middle-class, but rather obtaining employment that puts them in middle- to upper-class pay brackets.
“The reason we are changing our name is to let people know this school is stepping up to the 21st century and taking our training programs to another level,” he said.
FCCTI will also feature a new logo with a futuristic look that incorporates the colors of each of the sending school districts including Brownsville Area, Uniontown Area, Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands.
Brownsville Area students have also produced a video highlighting the programs offered at the FCCTI and the project has been airing on local television stations.
Jeffreys said perhaps the biggest component of the facility’s new image is the expansion of the adult education program.
With about 110-125 students at any time participating, Jeffreys said FCCTI officials are working to expand the already developed and implemented adult education program of about seven programs offering training.
“We have this building here that is open until late at night,” he said. So why not get people in here to train them while generating revenue for the school?”
Jeffreys said the program also serves the need of local and regional industries who are looking for a cost-effective way to train employees.
Fred Oravets, a welding instructor at the school, operates a welding program in the summer and evenings for adults. Oravets said he has been providing the adult training since 1990, and has watched the need grow through the years.
“We have state-of-the-art equipment and it’s more affordable for these companies to get training here than on-site,” Oravets said. “It seems like it’s growing more and more every year.”
Currently, Alpha Resources of Waynesburg, which owns two mining companies, uses the adult education program for employees.
Kevin Kveder, maintenance trainer for Alpha Natural Resources, said he prefers to utilize the FCCTI program for its reliability and efficiency.
“In two weeks, you can have a guy who never struck an arc before welding,” Kveder said.
Oravets also noted that the state-of-the-art equipment needed to for the adult education programs ultimately benefit the students who are learning with the most up-to-date materials. Jeffreys noted that the joint operating committee of the FCCTI, which consists of school board members from each of the sending districts, will be looking at applicants for an adult education recruiter to help build the program.
Jeffreys termed the initiative a “mini community college” where federal grants can be obtained as well as certification in some fields.
“If we want to give our students the best, we need to look at this as a business,” Jeffreys said. “We are making every attempt to educate folks of how career and technical training plays a vital role in our economy.”