The House Republican Policy Committee recently held a hearing in Hawley to discuss available technical and vocational education services.
The hearing also discussed how to develop existing services into more robust programs, and the need for a centralized Wayne/Pike career and technical center (CTC).
Testifiers included Keith Gunuskey, Wallenpaupack Area School District superintendent; Joann Hudak, Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance chairperson of the board; and Mary Beth Wood, Wayne Economic Development Corp. executive director.
Gunuskey spoke about how a CTC would create opportunities for high school students. In both Wayne and Pike counties, businesses, governments and economic development organizations have partnered to advance the work force, he said.
Hudak testified that college for all is an outdated concept.
“We have created this mindset to go to college, figure out what you want to do, graduate and then hopefully get a job,” Hudak said. “The formula should be to ask where the jobs are, what the skills are for these jobs and what related education is needed. Using this approach, our school systems are working side-by-side with our workforce and economic development partners to give our students high-quality work-based learning experiences.”
Wood stated that job creation is a measure of success in economic development and counties need educational infrastructure.