Technical college execs: Cuts deadly to programs

Dear Editor:

A progress, responsive and highly skilled workforce for the citizenry of Louisiana is dependent upon the availability of appropriate education and training. The workforce of Louisiana requires that at least 55 percent of the jobs require two years or less of training beyond a high school diploma.

However, less than 10 percent of the employable population of our state meets these qualifications.

The businesses and industries in this area of the state needing the highly trained employable workforce are met daily with the dilemma to curtail their products and services, deterring a real economic boon.

The Louisiana Technical College, Region 3, Lafourche Campus, Young Memorial Campus and River Parish Campus has strived to serve the needs of its students – the future workforce and its service area’s businesses and industries with responsive and timely education and training.

This training could have been severly severed had Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Louisiana legislators included the Louisiana Community and Technical College System in the recommended budget cuts for higher education.

At a time when technical education and training is crucial to gain ground in the effort to provide this training demanded of more than 40 percent of the workforce, budget cuts to this system would have been a setback – not just for months but for years.

The current economic downturn for our state may warrant a reduction of funds to entities of this state. However, we thank and recognize Gov. Jindal, his cabinet and our legislators for their astute decision not to adversely affect that which is in place to provide solutions – technical education.

Cindy M. Poskey,

Campus Administrator, LTC, Lafourche Campus

Kari Young,

Campus Administrator, LTC, Young Memorial Campus

Richard Cox,

Campus Administrator, LTC, River Parish Campus

Gregory L. Garrett,

Region 3 Director, Louisiana Technical College