Del Norte Area Workgroup 3
College of the Redwoods, Del Norte Campus
July 24, 2014, 1:30 PM
Room 23
Workgroup 3: Career Technical Education, Short Term & Apprenticeships
Action: The Del Norte Workgroups will meet again on September 9th with the same
schedule and format. The agenda will focus on the remaining reporting objectives, and
data collection for the October 31st report.
Universal Skills
WorkKeys is great for foundational employability skills: how to get the job, and how to
keep the job. In order to fill classes, we can develop a common core of entry level job
skills, then rotate biannually through programs of specific skills for specific careers, so
as not to flood the local labor market with too many specialized graduates in any one
year. This model may apply to Hoopa and Southern Humboldt, as well as Del Norte,
although the smaller rural areas may require a longer cycle.
Possibilities for Incumbent Workers and Corrections
There is a need to explore “incumbent worker” training programs, perhaps through local
employers and employment agencies. Noncredit has to open enrollment, so the
challenge is finding an appropriate venue for classes. For example, if Sutter Coast is
willing to offer a Workplace Communication Skills class in their training room, CR can
provide that at no charge through Noncredit, if they are willing to allow open enrollment.
The only exception to open enrollment is correctional facilities. The Del Norte County
Jail, however, is remodeling a classroom off of the jail lobby, and the Sheriff is
discussing the possibility of having released offenders return to the jail classroom to
continue classes they began in custody. There are some barriers, such as the potential
exchange of contraband, but CR would be able and willing to participate if this option
becomes available. Telepresence is another potential option for Corrections classes.
This would allow for continuing relationships with instructors and greater continuity of
coursework.
Targeting Transferrable Curricula
The Hospitality 101 curriculum, which was very successful in Del Norte, is already in
place, and could be easily modified into a General Retail certification which could then
branch into specific careers such as Hospitality, Food and Beverage, Retail Sales, etc..
Courses could be videotaped and offered online. CR can offer all of the Noncredit
categories online, but the State requires separate curricula for online classes. The key
is going to be finding a way to get the State to pay for online classes. CR still has the
Hospitality 101 online modules, but they have been difficult to locate on the server.
Work 201 is another possibility, and could allow a single class to work in multiple
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modules, including WorkKeys. Regarding learning management software, Blackboard
proved very expensive, and Sakai required a specialist to customize and maintain, and
it is still very buggy and unreliable. CR is currently committed to a new system called
Canvas by Instructure, which is in the pilot stage through Fall, and will replace Sakai in
January 2015.
What can we provide for local employers?
We can offer Noncredit workplace training on a continuing basis in conjunction with staff
meetings or at other regularly scheduled times, anywhere, as long as open enrollment is
offered, and classes are open to the public. We can put classes online in multiple areas
in order to meet minimum enrollment. Customer Service, Conflict Management, Team
Building, and Happiness in the Workplace are all courses which could be presented in
these formats as worker training, and bundled as stackable certificates. Another thing
we might want to explore is continuing education for professionals and licensure
requirements. The difficulty is that the current State mandate for Noncredit is directed
exclusively at helping people who do not have sufficient employment. The State is not
interested in subsidizing proprietary process education for specific employers, which CR
offers through contract training, but in funding general employability skills to get and
keep a job. Incumbent worker training, as such, is not yet an allowable Noncredit
category.
Some popular career categories among the Yurok tribes are Heavy Equipment
Operation, Cosmetology, and Phlebotomy, as well as Customer Service and Basic
Computer training, which could all be adapted to a Universal Skills core certification
curriculum. Phlebotomy is offered at CR Eureka, but is limited to 25 students per year,
which completely satisfies demand in the area. Cosmetology is another popular field,
but jobs are scarce, and there are currently 163 Licensed Cosmetologists in Del Norte
County.
Del Norte County remains a seasonal retail-based economy.
CR could offer Credit training classes at the Bar O Boy’s Ranch, if all 20 or so boys
signed up. It is a young population, seeking to develop skills. Currently, they learn
Plumbing and Culinary Arts.
Environmental Tourism, including Interpreting for foreign tourists, and Parks
Management are seasonal industries which could be developed into CTE short-term
and Apprenticeship certification programs.
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Redwood National Park has fire season training programs available to local residents,
and is another important environmental industry in Del Norte. Local workers want to get
into the CCCs. CR is currently working with the Forest Service on a Noncredit Fire
Academy. Wildland Fire certification will require between 100 and 200 hours, depending
on whether Cal Fire joins with the Forest Service, because Cal Fire requires more
hours. This effort has been delayed due to staff leave of absence, but he is due back
shortly, and the plan is for the first Academy to begin in January.
What about Green Energy jobs?
Where are the jobs in Del Norte? Everyone wants Green Energy, but the jobs are not
here yet. CR had about 1.4 million dollars 4 years ago and trained 300 people on wholehouse audits, hands-on thermal solar, and solar photovoltaic, and few of them got jobs
in the solar field. The training was directed at Federal Home Star Energy rebates, and
Congress funded the training, but decided not to fund the rebate program for
homeowners. The consensus is that Green Energy is 5 years from now, not now. There
is a need to train for jobs that are here now, like customer service. The challenge is how
to get potential workers “off the couch,” and into existing jobs. They may eventually
seek forestry training or truck driving skills, but there has to be a point of entry into the
workforce. We need to know what’s coming in 5 years, but many people need to work
next month. People who invest a great deal of time and resources in training which does
not pay off with employment are disappointed, and less likely to seek further training.
On the other hand, successful job training and placement increases confidence and
raises awareness of further opportunities.
Addiction Studies and Counseling Certification
The Jordan House residential treatment center has closed and is for sale, but there is a
desire among people who are in some sort of addiction recovery to become licensed
counselors, and this seems to help them continue their recovery. CR is prepared to offer
some free Noncredit substance abuse related classes in the Humboldt County Jail,
which could start a pathway to Credit Addiction Studies classes and professional
certification. The same classes will be offered outside the facility. Addiction education is
seen as crucial to supporting recovery and rehabilitation. One difficulty for Credit
students seeking an Associate’s degree is the availability of required courses. Many
students find themselves finishing their AA or AS in another major, and having to return
(or, not) to complete Addiction Studies.
Final Considerations
 Three fundamental adult learning areas for the Del Norte region are ESL, basic
computer skills, and short term, stackable CTE credentials.
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Geographic locations to target for expanding Adult Education are Klamath and Smith
River.
Weekday, evening classes are best for ESL and the working population. Seasonal
students need more classes in the Fall and Winter.
4 years to complete a program is too much, so shorter courses with full-time class
hours are more desirable, including one- week certificates for the unemployed.
Incumbent workers want programs that are more spread out, longer duration, both
full time and part time.
Other considerations and constraints: The consensus is that the highest enrollment
numbers will come from ESL classes. CR ESL Coordinator Mike Clark may come
and meet with Coleen to assess local needs and teacher availability. CR may have a
teacher for the Del Norte area. Computer labs are widely available in Del Norte, and
students are more comfortable meeting in the public schools after hours. More
students, of all income levels, are bringing their own laptops to Del Norte Reads for
individual tutoring and instruction in shopping and social media apps.
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