Utica Shale Academy awarded funds to expand
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SALINEVILLE - Efforts by Utica Shale Academy to prepare area youth for a variety of technical careers have received a major boost with the award of federal and state funds to expand its programs to Belmont, Harrison and Guernsey counties.
The regional trade school has been awarded a $336,578 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and $451,212 in state education funds to replicate the model for career technical education it has established in Columbiana County.
Superintendent Bill Watson said the funds will be awarded over a three-year period through the federal economic development agency's Prevention, Employability, Equity and Resilience Initiative.
Officials with the Appalachian Regional Commission said the project will allow Utica Shale Academy to build on its demonstrated dropout recovery and workforce development model by integrating industry-recognized credential training with evidence-based substance use prevention, behavioral health services, career coaching, peer recovery support and wraparound services.
Watson said the funding will allow the school to employ a workforce readiness specialist, drug prevention specialist and school-based therapist for up to 150 students who will pursue training for certification as an instrumentation and control electrical technician.
He said the training has been recommended by members of the school's oil and gas advisory board and will be vital not only for that industry but also for others turning increasingly toward automation.
Asked if other programs may be offered in the future, Watson said, "You have to crawl before you walk. Do we hope to grow? Absolutely."
Utica Shale Academy currently provides instruction in welding, diesel mechanics and industrial maintenance as well as online instruction in core subjects to about 164 students in Columbiana, Jefferson, Carroll, Mahoning and Stark counties.
Watson confirmed that just as the current school grew with support from the Southern Local School District, school officials in the grant's target area have been involved in plans for the expansion.
He expressed thanks to the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association and particularly to Vicki King-Maple, its executive director; and Ellie Dudding, regional development director for the agency; for assistance in attaining the grant.
Watson was asked what gave Utica Shale Academy an edge in obtaining the highly sought regional development funds.
He believes a major selling point was the school's timely and efficient use of a $2.3 million Appalachian Community Grant, through the office of Gov. Mike DeWine, to establish facilities for its workforce training programs.
Watson added the success of its students also was an important factor.
He noted that last year, the school's graduation rate was double the state's and its students' performance in core subjects fell one point below double the state's average while its graduates have earned more than 1,000 professional certifications since the school opened.
"We have a track record and history of doing what we say we're going to do and doing it well," he said.