According to School Board President Kevin Patrick, rumors have been circling that suggest a halt in the development of New Tech High School.
But Patrick assured the public at last week's school board meeting that New Tech is moving forward.
The only thing we've been discussing is do we build a Cadillac to put it in or do we put it in a Volkswagen? The program itself will continue," Patrick said.
Local businesses are showing support of the program. Long-time resident of Huntington and general manager of Our Sunday Visitor Kyle Hamilton approached the Board with a plea to continue development of New Tech.
I've been following the New Tech developments from the beginning, and I want to commend the school board and the administration for the creativity and the leadership that (they've) been exhibiting in bringing this forward," Hamilton said.
Our Sunday Visitor has been seeing a lot of growth over the past year, according to Hamilton. Thirty-seven residents were added to the payroll since last June, he said.
"We're looking for people who have a good work ethic, honesty, problem solving skills, team skills, technical skills, and the knowledge that can be ultimately used to serve our customers in the business," Hamilton said. "New Tech curriculum, in my opinion, would be right on target with what some of the students of the school corporation need as an alternate path to apply what I would call real-world project work."
Thus far, 113 students have been enrolled in New Tech High School, and Hamilton sees their interest as an early indicator of the economic impact New Tech could have for Huntington County.
"As businesses look to locate or to grow, we need a workforce that has the kind of skills that New Tech can bring," he said. "I know as a business, I can speak for Our Sunday Visitor by saying that we are very excited about working with the school corporation to place some of the interns, and we'll do anything we can from a business perspective to support the plan as well."
John Niederman, 26-year resident and President of Pathfinder Services also spoke to the Board on Monday night with similar compliments. As a Regional Workforce Board representative, Niederman attended a meeting in April where the main topic was the search occurring at the regional level to produce and retain young talent.
"I was very proud to be able to say that we're progressive here and that we are ready to step forward and to educate our youth," he said.
The Regional Workforce Board, Niederman says, has been working hard to develop skills for the 21
stcentury and have put together a number of initiatives to enable the integration of skills for youth and adults alike in anticipation of newly created jobs.
But his support of New Tech goes beyond his work as a representative. Niederman also serves as a mentor to a "buddy" through the Rotary Buddy program.
"My little buddy at Lincoln, when I was visiting him the other day, said 'I want to be a scientist,' and he proceeded to work with me on what causes submarines to work," Niederman said. "I thought about him and New Tech and the opportunities that he's going to have as he grows through the school system and the reach that it's going to create for the youth."
Niederman echoed Hamilton's excitement about the opportunities that New Tech will provide local businesses like his.
"It will put Huntington's community on the map," he said. "It will cause people to want to live here. It's a tremendous economic business opportunity that we have to look forward to."