Guests, including Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, talked up the importance of teaching young people skilled trades at the grand opening of a skilled trades center on the campus of La Center High School

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

La Center High School dedicated its new skilled trades center Thursday, yet another example of the recommitment to trades education in Clark County public schools.

U.S. Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez joined the superintendent of La Center Schools, the high school principal, and other guests at the grand opening of the on-campus facility.

Douglas C. Greene was the keynote speaker at the center that bears his name. Greene and Jon Girod of Quail Homes, among others, have been instrumental in the development of trades centers that have opened or are under construction at Evergreen, Hudson’s Bay, Ridgefield, Fort Vancouver, and Hockinson.

Now, La Center.

Greene, an inventor and entrepreneur, reminded the audience that some time in the 1990s, many public schools opted to point their students only toward college, downplaying the importance of skilled labor. Without opportunity, so many young people never learned those skills.

He did something about it. He wrote a document: Building a School Trades Center. Then he and colleagues shopped around his idea to school boards and educators.

“Basically a blueprint for communities and schools to put shop classes back into the curriculum,” Greene said.

Partnering with local businesses and nonprofit organizations, leaders in Clark County went to work. The sign outside of La Center’s facility says: Douglas C. Greene Skilled Trades Centers. Plural. Because there are so many now.

That commitment to skilled trades has impressed Gluesenkamp Perez.

“This is a country that is built on the idea that you should be able to make things,” she said.

Then, talking directly to the students in the audience:

“I am so deeply proud. I am so proud of the students who are here. I think what you are doing is profoundly counter-cultural, to define yourself not by what you can buy or flash on Instagram … but what you can build.” 

Peter Rosenkranz, superintendent, noted that this dedication ceremony was taking place “in the dark.” But that’s OK. The building, of course, is wired for electricity but it is not there yet.

“The whole point of this space, when the kids are ready, they will build it. It’s a great chance for our kids to learn those skills,” Rosenkranz said. 

He said the facility is a place for the students “to call home in the trades.”

Girod, who also runs a nonprofit called Careers in Construction, said building these centers is making a difference. He noted parents telling him that their child has changed, that their child wants to go to school all because of being in that class in the skilled trades center. 

“These buildings are so important,” Girod said.

La Center already has a large number of students in the program. This facility will give them space to build more, to learn more, to use more tools.

“They are very dedicated and looking forward to being professionals in the skilled trades,” said Matt Johnson, principal, referring to the La Center students. “There is so much demand. Students who are in this class probably already have a job lined up.”

Seth Sanders, the student body president, also appreciated all who made this possible.

“We’re here to dedicate this to the community and for everyone who put in the work for this great building that is going to make a lot of students happy,” Sanders said.