Rockland – Superlatives were tossed about Monday afternoon, Sept. 9, during the ceremony marking the opening of the new $21.5 million regional technical school.
“This is a magnificent building that will provide students with the skills they need to join today’s workforce,” Region 8 Vocational Board Chair Jerry White of North Haven said as he and Executive Director Elizabeth “Beth” Fisher cut the ceremonial ribbon.
White later spoke about the importance of vocational education and said he hoped that state and federal officials would understand the importance of such education programs and not just college programs.
The veteran island educator pointed out that there is an 18-year-old who who will be serving as an apprentice at Cianbro Corp. and will make $17 an hour. After the student completes the apprentice program, the pay will go to $25 an hour.
“Fifty thousand dollars a year, that ain’t chicken feed,” White said. “Those are the kind of jobs we are training students for.”