Mid-America Technology Center was among topics for the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce State of the Schools luncheon on Tuesday, September 22 at the Newcastle Library Community Room. Dallas Krout was the featured speaker.
Krout, who is the MATC assistant superintendent of Operations, said Newcastle has the second largest student population at the Wayne campus with 70 students. He said Noble continues to be their largest in student population. They serve 18 different school districts in the area.
Their mission, he said, is providing a competitive advantage for workforce and economic growth through quality education training. He said MATC offers for people to get a great career, live in their own communities, and offer something that the community needs.
Through their Professional Resource Outreach department MATC works with area businesses.
They do customized training for companies, but also offer open enrollment classes for Emergency Medical Technicians, welding, and Certified Medical Assistants. Their full-time classes consist of 31 programs, Krout said. He added that they interviewed 1,300 students this year to fill about 600 spots.
“For every five individuals that retire for a trade, there are only about two people going into those careers,” Krout said.
MATC has about 1,000 students who started the school year, according to Krout, but he added that it’s very competitive and they have a long wait list.
They recently expanded their cyber security program by adding a teacher, they are expanding their welding program with a metal fabrication program, and they’ve added another healthcare trainer. They are also excited about the addition of the hospital in Newcastle.
Future projects, according to Krout, include modernizing the MATC equine facility, and they are continuing to expand on healthcare programs such as their Licensed Practical Nurse training.
Krout said a lot of their growth is in the Newcastle area, and they are always looking for ways to better serve the citizens of the district and the community.
