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Show Vocational Expansion: Near Bottom : By TOM BUSSELBERG : KAYSVILLE Davis Area Vocational Center expansion ex-pansion has been pegged at 23 out of 32 "major construction projects" listed by the State Building Board, the center's board was told last week. MEETING ATtheKaysville facility, the board heard a report re-port from Jack Shell, center director, indicating it would take "$86 million to get to us," meaning that much money is tentatively allocated for other projects having priority over the center's expansion. Officially, $9,310,000 has been listed as needed to fund the expansion that would include in-clude new facilities for various vocational training programs, such as diesel mechanics, business busi-ness and administrative areas. BUT OF THAT amount. Mr. Shell said, "I think it will be less. We're looking at 73.000 square feet for maybe $7 million. mil-lion. I think that ($9 million) is high for shop facilities." It would also include $847,000 for purchase of the two existing buildings from the Davis School District, who originally ori-ginally operated the old Davis Vocational Center. It has since been placed under state "area vocational center" status similar simi-lar to other centers in Cache and Sevier counties and eastern east-ern Utah. THE Legislature has already commissioned preliminary pre-liminary drawings for the expansion ex-pansion with Glen R. Swen-son. Swen-son. architect, completing those plans. Mr. Shell said some "key legislators" are concerned with DAVC progress, including includ-ing Layton Sen. Haven Barlow who he indicated was "very upset," adding, "His first reaction was to do away with the State Building Board" upon hearing the priority. NOTING THE preliminary drawings were to be ready by Jan. 1 for possible action by the incoming Legislature, Mr. Shell said "a lot of meetings" have been held with state offi-cials offi-cials including Gov. Matheson. "We have some great people peo-ple supporting us and we've got some good reports," he said. "We realize the state is in a financial bind and we will work very closely with all local and elected leaders in all areas," the director said, noting not-ing that Sen. Barlow had said he felt "good support" could be gained for the project even at the $9 million amount. "WE MET WITH (State Schools) Supt. Walter Talbot yesterday (Nov. 24) and he said he'll work with us from his end to get the buildings. We'll never get anything done unless we keep working." The center is currently at or above enrollment capacity in its various programs, including includ-ing many where students must rely on off-center projects for actual experience and that means a dependence on weather weath-er and other factors beyond center control. Planned addi tions would provide classroom and mock work areas. LOOKING TO future vocational voca-tional job projections, Mr. Shell said, "I personally believe be-lieve the state will be in a critical critic-al job situation where there won't be enough skilled workers." work-ers." Citing a 62,000 new jobs projection for the near future he added, "We won't have enough trained" to fill the jobs. In other business during the regular monthly meeting, Mr. Shell said the center is in need of "more support help for basic skills" training for many students. "A lot of people need that help," including many on a third or fourth grade reading level. EMPHASIZING the need centered on non-secondary-school students he added, "We have no real program for those (needing support services). ser-vices). We're going to push for this." Funding for one experienced experi-enced basic skills teacher from the Legislature will be sought, he added. |