The construction trades program at Fort Scott Community College got a little extra help last week.

The program had recently received a selection of Kobalt tools, part of the new Tough Tools for Cool Schools program. The program is a partnership between Lowe’s, Kobalt Tools and the Skills USA organization. The FSCC program is part of the more than 500 Skills USA building trades and renovation programs in post-secondary institutions across the United States. These programs have received a total of $300,000 worth of tools for use in classrooms.

“Lowe’s is proud to work with Kobalt Tools and Skills USA to continue to prepare America’s future skilled work force and help students excel in their chosen career paths,” said Lowe’s President and Chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, Larry Stone. “With Kobalt tools in their toolbox, and the education and knowledge from Skills USA and their schools, we believe students will be ready to succeed when they enter the work force.”

Lowes donated the tools. Along with Kobalt Tools and Skills USA, Lowes is helping the next generation of skilled trade professionals across the nation.

“We’re honored,” said Chris Sterrett, the director of the construction trades program at FSCC. “It felt good to have the recognition. We’re having an impact on students’ lives. Lowe’s is one of many corporate partners to step up and participate in what we’re doing,” he added. “We’ve had a good response from business and industry.”

Skills USA Executive Director Timothy Lawrence said the tool donations will help many young people who plan to enter the construction industry in the future.

“The donation of Kobalt tools to Skills USA’s building trades labs nationwide will help prepare the next generation of workers and leaders for the challenging and competitive construction workforce of the 21st century,” he said. “The youth who will benefit from this generous donation will build and maintain our homes, schools and commercial structures in the future. Through the Tough Tools for Cool Schools program, Skills USA, Lowe’s and our technical training schools are building something together that will truly make a lasting impact.”

The national Tough Tools for Cool Schools program began in March.

Prejudices persist against tech training and trade schools, say critics of some recent moves by Michigan lawmakers. Read more.

The Department of Busines and Economic Development in the state of Maryland has granted $1 million for the development of a Career and Technology Training Center in the Garrett County town of Accident.

Garret County will also contribute $500,000 to the center, where students will acquire skills in welding machining, metal fabrication, carpentry and other trades.

Go here to learn more about either:

• Maryland welding schools or
  
• Maryland construction schools.

According to a report from Higher Education Journal, grads of trade schools might get some newfound respect. In fact, the Career Readiness Certificate may become a requirement for all trade school and community college grads, in numerous states.

The Certificate was first introduced in 2004 by the state of Virginia but it is now being used in programs in numerous other states – as many as 30, in fact -  as a qualifying tool in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in numerous fields of study. The Certificate may be a requirement for entry level jobs or for further study.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years there has been a weakening confidence in the academic credentials with which people graduate from high school and college,” says Barbara Bolin, president of the National Association for Career Credentialing. “The CRC is the perfect complement to those credentials.”

Inside Higher Ed has the full story here.

Georgina Trades Training Inc. held its grand opening this Saturday. The school located in Sutton, near Toronto, will help to prep new trades personnel for work in the ever-booming Toronto economy.

We have a commitment to “providing innovative learning partnerships,” says school president Gerry Brouwer. Read more.

Okay, every once in a while we have to post another link to another article about the need for more skilled workers and the attendant need for better trade schools and more people choosing to attend career colleges and trade schools. And this piece is by just a heck of a guy, anyway. Read Mike Holmes special column in the Globe and Mail.

Feature article on the closing last year of Harrison Career Institute (a trade school with locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey), and the effect on students left with nothing but a pile of debt:
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11008.shtml

The addition of more scholarship programs for colleges and technical and trade schools has quantifiable benefits, says Sean Parnell:

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/032308/hom_20080323014.shtml

We came across a fine article about an excellent trade school in Springfield, Missouri that takes people off the streets and trains them in practical hospitality and other trades.

Read more at Springfield’s News-Leader.

Pending the approval of schools boards and the availability of funding, the Kansas City School District (with the aid of some industrial partners) will open a new Engineering and Construction Academy as early as 2009.  The $40 million project would address Kansas City’s lack of skilled tradespeople. According to Garry Kemp of the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, more than 1000 new workers per year are recruited from out of the area.

“We’ve got to get the opportunities within our kids’ reach,” said Jack Bitzenburg, the local director of career and technical education.

Plans call for a high school blending high-tech training with teamwork. Upon graduation, students would be prepared for entry into a four-year university or would be able to begin an apprenticeship in a skilled trade. The first phase would involve the renovation of Anderson Annex, once an alternative high school affiliated with Manual Career and Technical Center. If the renovation goes according to plan, it would include a hands-on construction laboratory for middle school and high school students.

The Kansas City school district and industry backers as well as state and federal sources would jointly pay for the construction.

“Many of us have been dreaming about this,” said Kemp. “We’ve been at this for 10 years to make this a reality in the community.”