Education center offerings growing slowly but surely
By: TERESA MULLINS / Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, February 27, 2009 1:17 am
HAPPY VALLEY Although the Dickenson Center for Education and Research isnt booming, the facility is offering two basic college courses this semester, along with some special training classes.
The center offers community college classes through Southwest Virginia and Mountain Empire community colleges, special training classes for various organizations and office space for rent.
David Yates, who oversees the facility and is an education consultant for the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority, is certain the centers offerings will continue to grow slowly but surely.
Two college evening classes are being taught at the facility, including a second semester biology and second semester math. Yates said although some interest was shown in other course offerings for the current semester, it wasnt enough to hold the courses.
Still, Yates believes current activity at the center is a positive sign. We realize it will be a slow start but it is very positive that we had two classes, he stated. Yates said two short classes, one for security guards and one for food service workers, have also been held at the center.
EQT Corp., formerly Equitable Resources Inc., has also been conducting employee training at the facility, Yates noted. Next month, underground and above ground mining training classes will be offered at the center.
Several community groups have also expressed an interest in using the facility, Yates said. Some organizations have expressed interest in renting office space at the center, although to date only Dickenson County Wireless Integrated Network Authority is the centers only renter.
Yates is developing a summer schedule of class offerings for the education center, focusing primarily on developmental reading and math classes.
Sometimes graduating seniors end up qualifying for the developmental classes, Yates explained. If they can complete the classes this summer and pass the exam, they can begin regular college classes in the fall. We encourage students to do that so they will be on a regular track when classes begin in the fall.
Yates also hopes to do a community survey through the Dickenson County School System in the future, which will be used to determine the types of classes county residents would like to see offered at the facility.
http://www.thecoalfieldprogress.com/news.php?viewStory=22165