The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District is exploring the possibility of opening a career technical education center to give students not seeking a four-year college degree an opportunity to learn trade skills such as welding and plumbing.

Beyond giving students not on a college track the skills necessary to make a good living, the purpose is to try to encourage them to stay in the area after learning those skills, Superintendent Dain Butler told the RRGSD Business Advisory Council this afternoon.

To begin the effort, Butler said the school system is eyeing a building located behind the senior parking lot on Hamilton Street currently being used for storage as the CTE class area. He said estimated cost to upfit the building for that purpose is around $1.5 million. He believes, however, it can be done for less than that.

“We need people to settle here,” Butler said. “When I first came here I think there were 15,000 people in Roanoke Rapids. I think that number has dropped. We’re very fortunate we kept our enrollment pretty safe. That’s an issue I take very seriously.”

People coming to the city do so because they are looking for a job, Butler said. “They’re going to look at the school system. They’re going to go to websites that put a number on top of a school. What they’re also going to look at is what the school system offers. When they see early college, a CTE center, that’s very important. A lot of places don’t offer either in eastern North Carolina.”

Butler said the center needs to happen. “The kids deserve it and whatever it takes, I am willing to fight for it.”

The superintendent said the system will not do anything without funds and without input from the community on what needs to be done. He wants to see a committee formed to discuss the idea, ranging from how it is funded to how the school system can obtain the equipment necessary to bring the center to life.

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The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is offering CTE grants of $60,000 for two years each — $120,000 for both years — Butler said. “We’re going to apply for it, but it’s not going to make this happen.”

To bring the plans to fruition the school system is not ruling out seeking private investment for the project. “I would hope there are people in high places who have very strong businesses that would see the value of this CTE center and maybe they would like to help.”

Once a committee is formed, discussions will center on planning, physical plant and fundraising. “We need this in the Roanoke Valley. We need it for Roanoke Rapids graded schools. We need it for our kids. We need it for the future of this town,” Butler said.

Butler said there are many vocational opportunities in the area. “We want to try to get them out of here debt-free and no college loans. I think if we can get this to happen, you’re going to see kids leaving well-trained to stay here and work. If they leave, so be it. We have done our jobs. I’m not going to give up hope on this. I’m going to push it, push it just like I did with the early college.”

Chief Deputy Scott Hall of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, said, “I think it’s an outstanding idea.”

A graduate of RRHS, Hall said, “Not everybody is going to college or a four-year university.”

Hall said there was a time when students not opting for college were looked down upon. “But now, fast forward to 2020, here we are and we need people for trades.”

Another person attending the meeting said, “I think this is a great idea for students who don’t want to go to college. I have relatives who have gone into welding and they’re making $70,000-plus. That’s excellent money compared to a four-year degree in education. I think it would be well worth it and to have hands-on and something that they’re interested in that will really engage them and want to come to school.”

RRHS senior Hunter Christenbury praised the district’s existing CTE program.  

Christenbury who will graduate in May has taken public safety, emergency management and pharmacy tech classes which have prepared him for a career as an EMT.  “These classes allowed me to get a job with Gaston Fire and Rescue and I plan to continue my education and become a paramedic following graduation.” 

Local contractor Jimmy Dixon said he sees the plan as a win/win for the community.  “It’s hard to find brick masons, concrete finishers, carpenters and skilled laborers.  These are dying trades in our area. A center like this will be an asset to the whole Roanoke Valley.”