COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Career and Technical Education Director Randy Sowles reported to the Branch Intermediate School District Board of Trustees Wednesday on the findings of last week’s first committee meeting as the B.I.S.D. is exploring the possibility of bringing back their building trades program at the Branch Area Careers Center.
Sowles said the 10-person committee discussed the reasons to restart the program, which included developing basic skills in young people and to address the lack of skilled labor in the Branch County area.
While they were supportive of offering work experience opportunities, Sowles said the committee felt the B.I.S.D. should start slow and not jump into building homes right away. Instead, students should be taught basic skills and work on smaller projects.
Sowles said it was suggested that the B.I.S.D. should piggy back with the City of Coldwater or Habitat for Humanity to work on projects that they have.
Still to come is a survey of students to see what kind of interest there is and the hiring of a program manager.
According to Sowles, the committee felt it was important to continue the conversations about starting the program.
