News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Overton County School System and TCAT are offering free transportation to high school students pursuing diesel maintenance at the Livingston campus.
Overton County Schools Instructional Coach Deana Savage said starting this fall, students in Clay, Jackson, Overton and Pickett Counties are eligible.
“With our workforce data, this is the growing opportunity for those students,” Savage said. “And, post secondary workforce learning is something a lot of our kids are typically interested in, but never had the opportunity to participate in.”
Savage said students are being accepted for the program right now. Savage said interested students can learn more from their school’s guidance counselor.
“This partnership is what we call a regional partnership, where we have partnered with other rural schools who may be distressed or at risk,” Savage said. “So that we can offer the diesel maintenance program to those students, as well.”
Savage said the transportation is made possible through the Governor’s Investment for Vocational Education (GIVE) Opportunity Grant. Savage said the million dollar grant highlights diesel maintenance based on community workforce needs.
“We’ve had this collaboration in the works for approximately a year.” Savage said. “But, due to COVID and schools letting out last year, we weren’t able to implement it as quickly as we wanted. This actually runs for the next 16 to 22 months, so we’ll actually get two years of students being able to participate in this diesel program.”
As a part of the grant, Savage said employee partners are established for students to participate in internships. Savage said Overton Co. is still looking for other partners in the regional partnership.
“We would love to help those other districts find partners within their counties,” Savage said. “For us, it is working with Cooper’s Recycling, Main Street Diesel, Woolbright’s Automotive and even our Farmer’s Co-Op.”
