by justin strawser
COAL TOWNSHIP - When Line Mountain School Board Director David Scott Bartholomew discusses choices for high school graduates, he's not sure what to say.
"What would I send my kid to college for? With this economy, how do I answer that question?" he said.
After all, the Associated Press reported in April that 53.6 percent of bachelor degree-holders under age 25 last year were jobless or working jobs outside of their majors, the highest percentage in at least 11 years.
Bartholomew believes students have an option locally that can help them avoid this trend. It's the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC), of which he is a graduate.
The school, other board members agree, seems as relevant in this, its 40th anniversary year, than perhaps any time since its doors opened on Sept. 6, 1972.
"Right now, we're at a point where tradesmanship is more valuable than getting a BS in college," said Michael Rovito, NCCTC treasurer and a representative from the Mount Carmel Area School Board.
There are plumbers, mechanics and carpenters making more money than those who have earned college degrees, said Brian Persing, a Shamokin Area School Board members who serves on the career and tech board - and is a masonry program graduate.
"We all can't be doctors or lawyers. Maybe vo-tech training is for them. There's nothing wrong with that," he said.
James Monaghan, the school's administrative director, said it's about preparing students for their next step, no matter what that is.
"Hopefully, our kids are prepared for employment or post-secondary education when they graduate," he said. "They can get entry-level skills and enter the workforce in a particular trade or technical area."
The school, which has undergone transition to a full-day, senior-only, one-year program, offers training in 10 occupational fields to students from Line Mountain, Mount Carmel Area and Shamokin Area high schools.
Success stories
Bartholomew, also the NCCTC board secretary, graduated from the machine shop program in 1979 and got his first job at Forgflo Industries (now Brush Industries), Sunbury, right out of school.
He spent 30 years a machinist, where he made metal parts for electronic card readers at Forgflo and airplane and helicopter engines at Textron Lycoming, Williamsport.
"My parents begged me to go to college. I didn't want to go. And I was making more money than my counterparts who went to college. I was ahead of the game because I didn't have college loans to pay back," he said.
When he retired 10 years ago, he was making $18.90 an hour.
Persing graduated from NCCTC in 1978 and has been self-employed for the last 23 years with his business, Brian G. Persing Masonry Co.
"I learned the basics that enabled me to get into the workforce, start as a laborer and work with different contractors. That set me into the field forever. It's the only thing I've ever known, and the only thing I've ever done," he said.
Persing has donated his skills to such organizations as the Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library, Coal Township Elderly High Rise and the Coal Township Little League as a way to give back to the community.
"That's also why I'm on the board. I have nothing but praise for the school. It was one of the greatest experiences I ever had," he said.
Transition
This was the first year in the NCCTC's 40-year history for the full-day program for seniors, while continuing to offer half-day instruction for other students.
The transition has been smooth and exciting, Monaghan said.
For Line Mountain, Bartholomew said the senior program is a positive thing. Because the district is so large, students already spend a long period of time traveling to and from the high school in Mandata, and it's another 30 minutes each way from the high school to the NCCTC in Coal Township.
Students could be spending 2 1/2 to three hours in travel time alone, Bartholomew said.
"By the time you were ready for classes, it was time to go home," he said.
Persing and Rovito acknowledge the decision to change the program to senior-only was not good for enrollment and they praise the effort to allow schools to send other students.
"We don't have the students for only seniors, even with three districts," Rovito said.
Monaghan said he can see attendance improving in the future.
"We're constantly out promoting our program. Hopefully, parents realize career and technology education can lead to family-sustaining jobs and a career," he said.
10 programs
Ten programs are in operation at the school including welding (instructor Michael Bradley), protective services (Matthew Dunn), cosmetology (Mary Heim), health occupation careers (Ruthann Helfrick), culinary arts (James Schiavoni), collision repair (Jeremy Johnson), automotive technology (Daniel Shuman), electrical construction (Richard Roughton), occupational child care (Gwen Spurr) and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (Andrew Bartholomew).
There are also night classes available, Monaghan said.
Moving forward, Monaghan is working on implementing a program where seniors could take just a course or two rather than enroll in a full shop.
"If there's an opening in your schedule as a senior, you could have time to take courses outside your interest area," he said, noting how it could give additional skills for those entering the workforce.
Also, he has been working with the state Department of Education and Office for Veterans Affairs to target adult students of any age who have served in the military.
Eligible adults would be able to take courses and learn a trade at the school, he said.
Monaghan is in the application process for this program now and anticipates the state reviewing the paperwork in January.
"And then we'll go from there," he said.