Journal Tribune Weekend, April 10, 1999, A8

Shot in the arm for tech schools

HERE is the situation: More students want to attend Maine's technical colleges than there are slots. And employers are having to look out of state for trained workers. The solutions is so obvious, lawmakers would be fools not to take it.

A bill this session in Augusta would give $2.2 million a year for two years to the technical college system, including the fledgling Wells campus. YCTC President Jean Mattimore predicts a 50 percent jump in enrollment by next fall, which means the school will be full.

With more money, the schools will be able to offer more advanced training to high school graduates hoping to enter technical fields and current workers hoping to change career paths. As Rep. Tom Murphy of Kennebec noted, training residents for higher paying jobs repays the state's investment, and then some.

Legislators would approve this extra assistance with out further hesitation.