Vella proposal would commit $15M to Rockford area career and technical education school

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — State Rep. Dave Vella has introduced legislation that would funnel $15 million in state funds toward the creation of a new career and technical education school in the Rockford area.

House Bill 4315 would earmark money from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the construction of the new school.

Vella envisions a cooperative with multiple school districts in the area for a Stateline Technical Institute that would be able to shift its offerings based on the career needs of the community. His vision is modeled after the Career and Technical Education Center at the College of Dupage, which offers more than 250 degrees and certificates in a wide range of industries.

“I’m really trying to — and I know this is kind of a big ask — change the model we have for schools that is just going to get them graduated to preparing them for life after high school,” Vella said in a phone interview with the Rock River Current.

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This month, Rock Valley College is set to launch its Advanced Technology Center in Belvidere. That program offers training in CNC machining, mechatronics, welding and truck driver training. Vella says the school he is proposing would similarly prepare students for life after high school, but in a different range of careers. For example, if there was a great need for nurses, police or other professions, it could dedicate more programs toward those areas.

“We must do everything we can to bring and keep jobs in our community, and making a clear commitment to improving skills in the workforce is an important way to achieve that goal,” Vella said in a news release. “When we prepare our students with the skills they need to enter the workforce, we are setting them up for long-term success. I look forward to working this upcoming legislative session to make the Rockford area and Illinois as a whole a leader in career and technical education.”

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The bill was referred to the House’s Rules Committee on Wednesday. It’s unclear when it may be discussed.

“It’s something I’m going to be focusing on for however long it takes to get it done,” Vella said in the phone interview.

“If we are we to ever to get out from under the job shortage we have and also crime, we have to engage these kids early, and we can’t do that just by saying ‘you have to go to college,'” he said. “I truly believe once they leave high school, we lose them if they don’t have somewhere to go.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas .