Last July, Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center (SCCTC) announced they will be bringing a CDL program to their already wide arsenal of vocational courses. Now, after months of hard work and preparation, the first session of classes are set to begin on March 30. In light of this new opportunity, Congressman Fred Keller got a first-hand look at what’s to come.
Congressman Keller stops by for a tour
Keller joined SCCTC’s Executive Director Dr. Alice Davis; Elk Lake superintendent Dr. Ken Cuomo; and Cabot External Affairs Manager Bill desRosiers for a tour of the nearly completed CDL facility.
Davis and several SCCTC instructors showed visitors the interior of a double modular building that was finished by students from the school’s carpentry program. Near the building stands a newly paved 300-by-100-foot driving range with room to expand in the future.
“It’s terrific having this asset right here in Susquehanna County, given that there are so many jobs available in the truck driving industry,” Keller remarked. “I think they’ve done a great job of laying a good foundation for this program.”
Creating life-changing opportunities for the community
Classes of 12 CDL students each will be conducted day and night, the full-time day course running five weeks and night-schooling for 10 weeks. This flexibility is just one aspect of the program that is designed to provide opportunities for more people in the region.
“We can train them for jobs that the industry actually needs,” Davis explained, noting also that the addition of heavy equipment operator certification course is also a long-term goal. The combination of CDL and heavy equipment licenses, she related, can net a graduate a three-figure salary.
“There’s more than enough work for truck drivers. You can work as much as you want within safety guidelines,” desRosiers said of the certification. “You can take it anywhere in the country.”
Utilizing the SCCTC community to reduce tuition costs
With such a wide range of vocational tracks, the SCCTC community is able to work together to provide resources that would normally rack up tuition fees for students. Not only were portions of the new CDL center constructed by the school’s carpentry students, but the nursing program is preparing to help with physicals and drug testing.
Having these additional resources in-house lowers the cost of the CDL course to $6,000 and gives students from other programs valuable, hands-on experience. Dr. Davis also indicated that there are resources for veterans and other students that may be able to further reduce that cost, and desRosiers added that many employers will cover fees as well.
Coming Soon: Keller listens and learns at roundtable
After touring the new facility, Keller, along with other community, industry, and SCCTC representatives, met for an insightful discussion on how to continue helping these students both financially and occupationally. Learn more about this roundtable event and the funding sources behind vocational schools like SCCTC in our next Well Said post.
Interested? Learn how to enroll today!
Classes will begin on June 22, 2020. If you’re interested in enrolling or learning more, contact the school directly at 570-278-9229.
