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HUGHESVILLE -- The Lycoming Career & Technology Center faces the ever-demanding challenge of preparing students for jobs as well as the changes occurring in industry.
Toward that end, it can mean revamping educational offerings, according to Eric Butler, director of the school.
When the natural gas industry was booming in the area, it was decided to start training students in welding.
"What the gas industry wanted was well-rounded people with basic mechanical skills who could weld," Butler said.
That eventually led to a second Automotive Technology program providing more basic training to students.
Butler noted that although the gas industry has mostly pulled up stakes from the area, the relatively new automotive program serves as a feeder for the more advanced course offerings.
"They are learning all the foundation skills," he said, as he led a tour of the school recently.
More than 300 students are enrolled in the school in programs that also include culinary arts, health careers, drafting and design, computer service technology, construction, criminal justice and early childhood education. The senior high students split their school days between their home schools and the Technology Center.
Butler said all the programs include a task list that students must complete to demonstrate required skill levels. Such an evaluation, he said, is helpful in steering students into the workplace.
Many of the school's instructors come to the school to teach skills they've learned from working in particular industries.
Paul Shimel, formerly a master technician with Toyota, teaches the basic Automotive Technology program.
He said the learning process for students is 95 percent hands-on training.
A fundamental understanding of hand tools is part of the program.
"The challenge is learning the terminology of technical terms," he said. "They are eager to work. That's for sure."
Among his students is Colton Kyzer, an eleventh grade student from East Lycoming School District.
He said the program provides all the tools he needs for learning.
"It's actually really good," he said of the program.
Harry Kline, instructor of Automotive Technology, oversees the students in the more advanced Automotive Techology
program.
"The first level kind of teaches them the nuts and bolts, such as basic hand tool principals," he said.
The newer program, he said, has been very beneficial.
His own students, who have already been through the initial courses, learn all about steering and suspension, brakes, engine performance, and electrical systems.
"By the time they leave, they should a basic understanding of the Pennsylvania Inspection program," he said. "Almost 75 percent of their work is hands-on work."
Butler said the two Automotive Technology programs have among the highest enrollment of all the school's programs with 66 students.
"The neat thing about Lycoming Career & Technology Center is we are growing," he said.
Overall, increasing numbers of employers, including local companies, are seeing the benefits of the kind of education offered at the school.
"Our ultimate goal is local happy taxpayers," Butler said. "The expectation is that you are making an investment."