October 24, 2011
Idaho's public schools, colleges, vocational programs and agencies are doing more to help students upgrade their skills in sustainable industries. A $5.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor is putting state-of-the-art equipment in classrooms across the state and strengthening dual-credit programs where high school students earn post-secondary credits before they graduate.
Studies show it’s a good investment. According to research conducted by the Idaho Department of Labor, the state already ranks in the top ten among states with the highest concentration of jobs that produce renewable energy and alternative fuels, promote sustainable agriculture and conservation, and develop waste control and remediation methods. The state also shows high potential for job growth in those industries.
Unlike programs in other states where money was used to train people with an expectation they would find immediately find jobs — which have proven to be elusive — Idaho officials took a longer view and invested in schools, allowing them to modernize or strengthen existing training programs.
The College of Western Idaho, with campuses in Canyon and Ada counties, is among the 22 schools included in the grant. The school received close to half a million dollars for four different programs, including the school's popular auto body program. Its 18 slots typically fill during the first two days of registration, say college officials.
New equipment provided by the grant will allow students to work with water - rather than solvent-based paint. The school did not have the money to offer this eco-friendly option before the grant, said Jeff Schroeder, program department chair.
"There's a movement towards this in the auto body industry,” Schroeder said. “The grant gives our students an opportunity to practice with equipment and with products. They will be better prepared for the workforce. It's necessary for them."
Second-year auto body student David Yerby, 26, agrees training on the latest equipment will mean a stronger resume when he starts looking for jobs. It also means a healthier work environment. People who get into his line of work do so because they're passionate about the field, he said. Breathing toxins shouldn't be part of the deal.
"Thirty years ago, they were sanding without masks, using aggressive products,” Yerby said. “Now, with the technology being water-based, you're eliminating a lot of waste product in the atmosphere, and you don't have to be around big containers of stored waste, either."
Yerby’s optimistic about his job prospects, as lots of older auto body workers are retiring. The grant, he said, has helped the CWI shop be more prepared for upcoming, tougher ozone restrictions than many auto body shops operating now, he said.
Students at Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston have a new hybrid car in their shop to help them learn green automotive skills, thanks to the grant, as well as a "dynamometer," a platform that holds a running car in place, allowing students to do a number of tests, including emissions.
"The impact of the grant is that it gives us the chance to offer programs we wouldn't have been able to," said Tim Wiggins, chair of the college's technical and industrial division.
The grant money is benefitting students of all ages. The largest share of the grant, $1.6 million, paid for the new renewable energy technician certification program at ISU's Energy Systems Technology and Education Center. Students were able to enroll in the nine-month program for the first time this spring.
The program's goal is to prepare students for entry-level positions in the renewable energy industry. The program, large portions of which are taught online, or in the evening, includes self-paced portions as well as in-class time, making it a good fit for non-traditional students.
On the other end of the spectrum, students at Kamiah High School in Kamiah are benefitting from their $60,000 share of the grant to bolster the school's pre-engineering program.
"What was awesomely cool, is that the new equipment is already part of our curriculum," said Kylena Guffie, business manager for the district. "Kids have started studying solar and wind power. They built a machine from the ground up that generated enough electricity to power a light bulb."
Their project also won them a silver medal this summer at the national SkillsUSA competition, which showcases some of the country's brightest students in technical fields. Guffie said the pre-engineering students' success inspired a lot of younger students at Kamiah, and others in the community.
Idaho was one of 34 states to receive a green grant from the $190 million earmarked in a 2009 economic stimulus package designed to expand the nation’s labor pool with the skills needed by emerging industries like renewable and efficient energy. Nearly $4.5 million of the $5.9 million received has been distributed to 22 Idaho schools and the Idaho AFL-CIO also received grant money. The rest of the funds are being used to fund local coordinators and administer the program. The grant program will expire in May of 2013.
A summary of the programs funded, the grants awarded to each entity and examples of the equipment purchased is here.
Idaho Energy Sector Partnership Funding
Education Program Summary
The Idaho Energy Sector Partnership Grants awarded to Idaho schools are for education and training programs that fall into ten categories:
Automated Manufacturing, Renewable Energy: Combined with college credit, secondary coursework prepares students to enter a number of fields, including mechanical engineering, wind energy technologies, and electrical engineering.
Automotive: Includes diagnostics and repair of hybrid vehicles, including alternative fuels, hybrid and electric vehicle technology, emissions, safety, and environmental standards.
Construction: Strengthens secondary students' green home building skills.
Diesel Engine Technology: Post-secondary programs at technical colleges train students on the theory of operation, maintenance, diagnosis and emission control systems repair on a range of vehicles.
Electronics: Trains students in various aspects of electronics and connectivity to power sources. Students will be able to receive certificates in alternative energy, and be qualified for certification in renewable energy.
Environmental Collision Repair and Auto Refinishing Technology: Includes painting, welding, minor repair, and plastic bumper repair.
Industrial Mechanics: Instruction on solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal energies, and the methods to connect them to existing power grids.
Pre-Engineering: Combined with college credit, secondary coursework includes renewable energies and solidifies students' academic preparation for professions in the energy field.
Renewable Energy Technician Certification: The program, at Idaho State University in Pocatello, offers online, evening, and Saturday classes.
Wind Energy Technician Program: Trains students to install, maintain and repair wind turbines, and deliver outreach and community education programs about sources of alternative energy.
Susan Simmons: (208) 332-3570 ext 3361
Bob Fick: (208) 332-3570 ext 3628
News Story: Training Idaho students for the 21st century workforce
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