Community leaders tour new tech center

Business Today

POPLAR BLUFF -- State representatives, city and school officials, and business leaders recently toured the newly-constructed addition to the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center.

"The main purpose of this is to express our appreciation and thanks," said Roger Slayton, director of the Technical Career Center.

The center is currently used by 474 students - 422 high school students from eight school districts and 52 adults. It houses 16 programs.

"We live in a world of fast-changing times. Everything is automated and computerized. We need skilled workers. It's technical and vocational people who fill the needs of the community," Slayton told the group.

The new addition will house the auto-collision repair, welding and cosmetology programs. Construction was completed in mid-December. Among tour highlights were an environmentally-approved paint booth with special lighting, and the cosmetology school with handicapped-accessible equipment.

Slayton fielded questions from the group as he guided them through the new addition and into the existing building, where he explained the planned renovations.