After years without car training program, secondary school students from the Roaring Fork school district finally have a space to get dirty once again during learning.
The Colorado Mountain College and the Roaring Fork School District officially opened the center of automotive technology on Wednesday, marking the return of a program which once given the students one step ahead in the industry but had been interrupted. Now, with advanced tools and updated classrooms, students acquire the skills necessary to relaunch careers in automotive service while gaining university credits.
“This is an extremely exciting period for CMC and the roaring school district of Fork, and I can’t wait to see this establishment full of students, activity, learning, innovation and the future of professionals labor, “said CMC president Matt Gianneschi.
The program has scored 48 students from Basalt secondary schools, Roaring Fork, Bridges and Glenwood Springs. Students acquire brake skills, engines, management and suspension, electrical systems and CVC while working with $ 300,000 in industry.
“This is important due to the partnership with CMC and their ability to provide a high -end program and equipment, the educational facilitator of the Roaring Fork school school district, Mitchell Foss,” said the educational facilitator. “Our students have access to Career manufacturers, to career equipment suppliers.
The program follows an 80/20 model, with 80% of courses that takes place in the store and 20% in class. For many students, this is their first experience with college levels.
“On the first day, we asked them to raise their hands – how many of you have already taken a college level?” Said foss. “There are about 12 to 15 students in each section, and I may have seen a hand. This program considerably increases the number of students accessing the college prices. »»
For Mike Sims, resident of Glenwood Springs, the return of the program is personal. Sims graduated from Glenwood Springs High School in 1987 and participated in a similar automotive program in the Roaring Fork school district before it was interrupted.
“I like it. I’m glad it came back because it has been closed for many years,” said Sims. “It’s good to see him come back. We need more mechanisms.”
His son Parker Sims, a junior at Basalt High School, is registered on the program.
“I grew up in the all my life shop – every Saturday, Sunday that I am not at school, we are in the working shop,” said Parker Sims. “It has always been one of my passion. With this program, I do school work, but I have fun with it. He’s just a winner.
Mike Sims said that closing the previous program left a gap in local training opportunities.
“I have always been disappointed when they closed it. I sometimes understand that it takes money and financing to make things happen, but it was sad to see that it goes, “said Mike Sims. “I always pleaded for him to come back.”
Parker Sims said that the opportunity to take this course in high school will give it one step ahead.
“It’s great, because I always wanted to go to the technology school,” said Parker Sims. “I know that since I was small, I didn’t want to go to a four -year university, so it just gave me a perfect start to jump.”
The head of the Roaring fork Ben Bohmfalk school district said the program will help students explore technical careers beyond simple automotive mechanics.
“It is not only a question of training students to be automotive technicians,” said Bohmfalk. “It is a question of helping them to determine if they like to work with their hands, solve problems and work with mechanical systems. From there, they could go to aviation mechanisms, construction, CVC – there are so many possibilities. »»
Bohmfalk said the program also helps respond to labor shortages by connecting students to well-paid local jobs.
“People are rethinking the best way to school to a successful career,” said Bohmfalk. “Previously, almost all promising careers required a four -year degree. This is no longer the case. There are so many technical and practical jobs that pay a decent salary here in the Fork Roaring Valley. »»
The director of trades and trades of Colorado Mountain College, Jim Jones, said that the center is the result of planning years.
“Well and I started working there over two years ago,” said Jones. “Once the agreement in place between CMC and the School District of Fork Roaring, it took about six months to bring everything together.”
Jones said that investment in training and equipment guarantees that students will be prepared for careers in high demand industries.
“These students work on their own vehicles, their families, using the latest industry technology,” said Jones. “Not only do they save money by learning to repair things themselves, but they get high-level education in the process.”
CMC plans to extend the program to include the training of electric vehicles before summer 2026, awaiting grants.
“We have built this space thinking about the future,” said Jones. “The installation is precheed for the EV load, and we work with partners like RFTA, Aspen Skiing Company and local dealers to ensure that students have access to the most recent training.”
CMC president Matt Gianneschi said the center reflects the power of partnerships between education and industry.
“This project is more than this installation. It is a long -term investment in our students and in our communities in the mountain cities of Colorado, “said Gianneschi. “With the Roaring Fork School District, we have collaborated to design a space in which high school students can gain university credits, acquire ready -to -use skills and take the first steps of their careers.”