AAC
FEATURE
Top, left: Around 100 people gather at the Benton Events Center for the Saline County Career and Technical Center groundbreak- ing ceremony. Above: Arkansas State University Three Rivers Chancellor Dr. Steve Rook says the college is commit- ted to providing “top training” to students attending the center. Left: Arkansas State Sen. Kim Hammer prays before the ceremony.
pathways: automotive technology; manufacturing and product devel- opment; welding and metal work; heating and air; health science and nursing; information technology; computer engineering; biomedicine; STEM engineering; and aviation. “We want this curriculum to be flexible to meet the needs of business and industry, so these pathways could change over time if we need changes,” Arey said. In the November 2019 general election, Saline County voters passed Issue 6, a temporary, county-wide three-eighths percent sales tax that will provide money for the center. Te tax will eventually pay off the bonds for the center. Arey said projec- tions show that the bonds would be paid off in 12 years or less. Trough this process, the county is trying to raise $43 million.
COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2020
Saline County’s six school districts
— Benton, Bryant, Bauxite, Harmo- ny Grove, Glen Rose and Sheridan — will collectively cover the day-to-day operating costs, including insurance, utility, maintenance, custodial needs and more. Te Arkansas State University
Tree Rivers college will provide staff- ing and teaching. Teir funding will come through the Arkansas Depart- ment of Education and Department of Workforce Education. Te 112,000-square-foot facility is being constructed on approximately 22 acres of land at the corner of the Interstate 30 Service Road and Mountain View Road in Benton. Te center will encompass a uniquely planned two-story split-level scheme that accommodates the site topography and program needs. Te facility will support approximately
1,400 high school students per day, along with provisions for community and adult education and training pro- grams, according to the Stantec website. Te school will provide students an alternative option to learn skills that will set them on a path to a high paying career. Tey will earn col- lege credit, which will allow them to get certificates to begin work while they’re at the center. “Not every young person needs or wants to go to college,” Arey said. “Years ago, as a society we told our kids that if you want to be success- ful then you must have a four-year degree. And that is simply not true. Tere are many great careers out there that do not require a four-year degree. Jobs that pay really good money, we just need to show our young people what those opportunities are.”
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