News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
TCAT Livingston and other locations across the state are seeing a waiting list for programs.
As a result, Governor Bill Lee has proposed $79 million dollars to reduce the some 11,000 people statewide waiting for classes. TCAT Livingston President Myra West said the extra funding is a significant investment that would help feed the demand.
“For example, if we have a class such as our building construction technology class, we have enough on our wait list to be able to offer another section for that,” West said. “Then, the proposed budget does have I think close to eight million statewide for reoccurring staffing.”
West said TCAT Livingston currently has two term waiting lists for its building construction and electric technology classes. West said power line construction maintenance also has a waiting list.
“For a typical program at TCAT, we enroll 20 to 25 depending on program, so for our construction program, we have 22 on our building construction technology waiting list, which would mean we have enough for another section to be opened,” West said.
West said more sections means more space, and Lee’s budget also has funds earmarked for the capital outlays.
“Additional space is also an issue for some of the TCATs, as well as us,” West said. “To be able to offer another section, you have to have space, so there is some proposed funding for capital outlay and renovations and expansions of facilities. So it might be that we were able to get an additional classroom or an additional shop area.”
West said she appreciates Gov. Lee allocating the funds to help TCAT grow in the future.
