West-MEC offers new technical courses

High school career and technical education in the West Valley will get a boost of new courses next fall.

Western Maricopa Education Center is offering three new classes: Building Trades, Fire Science and Medium/Heavy Diesel Technology. Although the courses and partnering businesses are decided, West-MEC Superintendent Greg Donovan said instructors and total costs are not finalized.

Donovan said a 20-member advisory commission, made up mostly of business members and educators, was formed last year to decided industry demand in Arizona and student interest.

"We contracted with Maricopa Community Colleges District in a joint effort to research occupational demands in Maricopa County looking at a 10-year time span," he said.

Donovan said health care and transportation we at the top of the list.

The three new courses will add to about 700 Career and Technical Education classes within the district. Last year, West-MEC had 21,000 students taking classes at 39 high schools and three community colleges.

A voter-approved district, West-MEC began its first educational year in fall 2003. There are 12 districts within West-MEC, nine of them high school districts where West-MEC offers various classes.

Today, the district offers courses on site and at its member high schools, and it also offers some off-site courses for all students.

Mike McAfee, education director for Arizona Auto Dealers Association, was a member of West-MEC's advisory committee. He said about 19 percent of retail sales in Arizona come from automotive sales and repairs.

"Where are we going to find the replacement for those 29,000 employees? That's why we're involved in public education," he said. "We contract with the public schools systems."

The bulk of the 18-student Building and Trades class is at Phoenix Pipe Fitting Trades and costs $25. The diesel technology course is the most expensive out-of-pocket class for the 18 students enrolled. In the second year, students must purchase a $450 discounted tool set valued at $3,000 to complete the class, Donovan said.

"We believe there is student interest and industry demand for these programs," he said. "For many students (these programs are) the relevance and relations for why there is school. This answers the question, 'why.' "