TCTC adding EMT and videography programs
DEXTER — Students across the region will have opportunities to take part in new emergency medical technician (EMT) and multimedia videography programs at the Tri-County Technical Center (TCT) next year, with the programs being funded with state monies.
During a Feb. 14 meeting of the SAD 46 school board Superintendent Kevin Jordan said, “When you start a new program typically you need to wait two years, but in the proposed 2018-19 vocational budget funding for the two programs is in place.”
“We essentially are getting the money up front now,” he added.
TCTC Director and SAD 46 Assistant Superintendent Dr. Patrick O’Neill said the Maine Legislature has about $142,000 earmarked for the EMT and multimedia videography programs. “The only expense we will have is salaries, benefits and essentials for the programs,” he said.
He said Mayo Regional Hospital and Sebasticook Valley Hospital have both expressed interest in providing instructors for the EMT program to train students and fill a need for the region and beyond. “We are hoping to get about 24 in each section,” Dr. O’Neill said about the two new programs.
The TCTC director said video companies in Bangor and Rockland have expressed interest in instructing the multimedia videography program, similar to how current courses are taught by those working in the field.
In other business, the school board heard from the district administrators.
Dexter Regional High School Principal Stephen Bell announced that senior Kaitlyn Webber is the school’s 2018 recipient of the Maine Principal’s Association MPA Principal’s Award. Bell said she is the daughter of Kevin and Nicole Webber of Garland, and Webber, Bell and other honorees and their principals will be attending a banquet in April with students entered into scholarship drawings.
“If you know Kaitlyn or her family then congratulate them on her award,” Bell said.
He said that Webber will be the Class of 2018 valedictorian. Bell said during an assembly the week before Rebecca Batron and Olivia Webber were also announced as the co-salutatorians.
Ridge View Community School Principal Gerald Kiesman said the annual Moose Tech event, which brings together educators from across the region for a day of technology conferences, lessons and other events, will be at the school on Friday, March 16.
“So there will 300 people here,” Kiesman said about the in-service day for teachers.
Dr. O’Neill reported 13 TCTC students earned gold medals at the recent SkillsUSA competition to advance to the state level on March 1-2 in Bangor. “We are excited and we expect some will go on to the national competition,” he said, which is scheduled for late June in Louisville, Ky.