By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council declared on Tuesday, February 8, that February is Alabama Career and Technical Educational Month.
(From Left to Right) Councilmember Perry Cook, Councilmember Ben Short, Councilmember Lisa Bright, Career Technical Education Administrator for Trussville, Joy Young, TCS BOE member Dr. Steve Ward, Councilmember Alan Taylor, Mayor Buddy Choat, and Councilmember Jaime Anderson. (Photo by Hannah Curran)
According to the proclamation presented to council members, Alabama Career and Technical Educational Month recognizes the value of the Electrical Construction and Biomedical Sciences Academies in providing desirable high-skilled employees to our broader community.
“I think it just gives people more opportunities and a lot of people changing jobs or career paths because of this,” Mayor Buddy Choat said. “It recognizes those that realize they might not want to be a specific doctor, lawyer, or whatever, there are other opportunities, whether it be an electrical engineer or something like that.”
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The global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growing gap between job opportunities in multiple career fields and the pool of available employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates a nine percent job growth for electricians between 2020 and 2030.
“The academies at our high school are phenomenal,” Councilmember Perry Cook said. “I mean there’s a lot of recognition, there’s a lot of things and opportunities that are for any student who has an inkling to do something besides something else, they may change your mind when they get there and see what the academy offers. I think it’s a phenomenal program that you guys have, that we have.”
The BLS also estimates eight percent job growth for medical equipment preparers, 11 percent for health care support workers, 17 percent for occupational therapists, 21 percent for physical therapists over that same period.
“Alabama Career and Technical Educational feature a lot of different aspects,” Choat said. “So we just felt like with our academies at the high school, we just felt like we should show support.”
The City of Trussville’s 2040 Plan recommends developing and expanding Career Technical Education within its Education Corridor. Hewitt Trussville High School already has 112 students enrolled in its Electrical Construction Academy and 225 in its Biomedical Sciences Academy.
