After 2009 fire, Sno-Isle Skills Center rebuilds and grows
Published 12:01 am Monday, September 12, 2011
EVERETT — The new Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center started its fall session last week with about 530 high school juniors and seniors in each of its morning and afternoon technical training classes.
Students from 14 school districts in Snohomish and Island counties take classes at the center, which sits at 9001 Airport Road across from Paine Field and Boeing’s assembly plant. This year, Sno-Isle is offering 19 courses in five different career tracks: information technology; business, marketing and management; human services; science and health; and trade and industry.
Dave Rudy took over the reins as the center’s director this year after working 17 years as career and technical education director at Sedro-Woolley High School in Skagit County. Assistant director Maggie Bagwell is new to the center this year, too.
The four main buildings on the campus were remodeled in 2010 after a fire in the main building erupted May 5, 2009, during initial remodeling work, Rudy said. That gave the Mukilteo School District, which operates the center, an unexpected opportunity to rethink the layout of the campus’ other three classroom buildings.
During a tour of the campus, Rudy highlighted some classroom changes and the array of program offerings designed to train students for careers in high-demand, high-wage occupations.
A dental assistant training lab with four patient stations is new this year, Rudy said. If the center can find a dentist partner, dental assistance students will be able to do their internships on campus instead of in the field.
The DigiPen video game animation and design class isn’t just for the artistically gifted, Rudy said. Students need to be comfortable with algebra, trigonometry and higher math while they learn C++ computer programming.
To get a taste of finer dining, culinary arts students under the directions of a professional chef will find out what it’s like to run the restaurant on the center’s campus. Le Bistro will be open to the public in October once students have developed a menu.
Juniors will get their own introductory cosmetology course this year that’s conducted using Everett Community College curriculum. Senior cosmetology students will have their classes on the EvCC campus while they qualify for a state cosmetology license. Sno-Isle subsidizes part of college tuition cost.
“These programs teach leadership skills,” Rudy said. “Juniors and seniors typically have the abilities. We maintain their interest and provide the hook for kids with these programs.”
Classes run in two 2 1/2-hour blocks. Students can earn up to 36 college credits in some of the courses. Instructors are hired based on their work experiences, Rudy said.
To get students as much practical experience as possible, Rudy is reaching out to businesses and other training facilities. The aircraft assembly and service tech class bear this out.
“Boeing has been a fantastic partner,” he said. The company has licensed some of their proprietary curriculum for the skills center to use. “They’re looking for a pipeline” for new machinists.
Rudy said he’ll also talk with his counterpart at the nearby Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center to see if his airplane assembly class might serve as a good “foundational class” at the training center, which trains workers in aerospace assembly techniques.
“We want to be thought of as a training center,” Rudy said. “It’s on our ‘ideas list.’ “
On the Web
Go to www.snoisletech.com for course details, answers to frequently asked questions, a menu for Le Bistro and more.
