By Betsy Finklea
Workforce training was back on the agenda at a recent Dillon County Board of Education meeting.
Dillon County Board of Education Chairman Richard Schafer said a committee was appointed to assist the board with the workforce center initiative.
Haywood Proctor, chairman of the Dillon County Public-Private Partnership Economic Development Board, said that an exciting meeting was held with the Human Resources people from industries in the county. Proctor said they shared their vision for workforce development and how they wanted to get there.
Leigh Sloan spoke on behalf of the committee which is composed of Sloan, ATEC Director Jerry Strickland, and Heath Milligan, NETC Dean of Instruction. Sloan said they were investigating issues for the development board. She said they wanted to ensure mechatronics could be taught at ATEC.
“Mechatronics is a new interdisciplinary field involving mechanical, instrumentation, electronics, robotics/automation, computer components, and control systems.
Mechatronics is a dynamic field that changes daily with the rapid improvements in technology and computer systems.
Systems are networked to meet the demands of automated manufacturing processes, and technicians are trained to meet necessary entry-level industrial skills and entry into a post-secondary program at a technical college. Dual credit is available through Northeastern Technical College,” according to a handout given at the meeting.
Sloan said they think mechatronics is exactly the right way to go.
Sloan said Jerry Don Bullard, the ATEC instructor over the program, had worked tirelessly to make sure their program meets the standards.
The program will help produce a sustainable, steady workforce for local industries. Industry officials told them that the field was changing constantly.
Sloan said they have taken the standards for the ATEC mechatronics program to NETC and have gotten approval. She said it meets the qualifications for dual enrollment credit so they will also earn college credit. She said students will be able to build their academic records and gain employability skills. Students who successfully complete Mechatronics II and III can earn 12 hours of college credit. A total of 17 students completed Mechatronics I and will be able to take Mechatronics II in the fall. She said the students who earn the 12 hours of college credit will have completed an entire semester before they go to college. Students will also have the option to earn certificates.
Sloan discussed ways they can promote the program.
Some of the ways that they plan to promote the program include:
-Counselor/Administrator Breakfast at Dillon Technology Center, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. We will make sure all counselors at county high schools and middle schools are aware of the program and encourage their students to participate.
-Dillon Technology Center Open House, week of August 10, for teachers, administrators, and industry leaders. We would also like to schedule teacher visits to local industry.
– Promotion video/ panel discussion
-Brochures and newspaper coverage
She said they want a collaboration with the schools and industry. Some of the things they will be looking at include:
-Partnering with local industry to organize and provide courses designed to meet their specific hiring needs (Industrial maintenance, CNC, electrical, robotics, etc.) Providing the training necessary to provide a steady, skilled workforce (problem-based learning, basic math skills)
·     Exploring youth apprenticeships, internships, mentoring the educational partnerships
·     Partnering with NETC to create stackable certificates for our graduates
·     Highlighting the accomplishments of Dillon Technology Center and promoting our successful students
Sloan said all of this will roll in August. She said that industries say they need thinkers, analyzers, and problem solvers as they have become continually automated.
Dr. John Kirby said they want to make sure they have a quality program not a dumping ground.
ATEC Director Jerry Strickland said he was excited, and he had never seen as much excitement about the Technology Center. “We can do the job,” said Jerry Strickland, ATEC Director. “We’re ready for it.”
Instructor Jerry Don Bullard said mechatronics was a dynamic field. “It is the future,” he said.
Proctor added that this was a great opportunity in Dillon County and the jobs are waiting, but they have got to train.
Kirby said he and Superintendent Ray Rogers supported the budgetary needs for the ATEC to implement the program.
Schafer said he had never seed this level of enthusiasm or cooperation on a project.