One
of the initiatives emphasized in the Long Term Recovery Plan for
Charlotte County was higher education and training. It is recognized
improving workforce skills is paramount to the expansion of existing
businesses, as well as attracting new businesses. Having the educational
opportunities at home enables the residents to pursue a higher
skill job paying higher wages and improve their quality of life.
Additionally, offering classes to fit the employed worker, whether
it is in the evenings, weekends or on-line is another arena and
these classes are now being offered by the Charlotte Tech Center,
Edison College and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Another
initiative that was recommended was to form an Education Coalition,
and that has now been established, and Dr. Robert Burns, Executive
Director of Florida Gulf Coast University, Charlotte Campus is
the Chairman. One of the first tasks of the Coalition will be
to implement an education needs assessment to identify the kind
of jobs and training needed, and concurrently, updating the July
2000 Workforce Study. With these studies, additional courses and
training programs can be implemented to meet the needs.
Following
the Recovery Plan, Florida Gulf Coast University, Charlotte is
offering Bachelor and Master’s Degree programs tailored to the
needs of Charlotte County schoolSchool Board employees and others.
The already successful degree program in elementary education
will be expanded to offer evening classes to fit the schedules
of working teachers aides and paraprofessionals. The Masters in
Educational Leadership will prepare school district employees
to be eligible for positions such as principal and assistant superintendent,
which the school district knows will be needed soon and others.
The already successful degree program in elementary education
will be expanded to offer evening classes to fit the schedules
of working teachers’ aides and paraprofessionals. The Masters
in Educational Leadership will prepare school district employees
to be eligible for positions such as principal and assistant superintendent,
which the school district knows will be needed soon.
Additionally,
both the bachelor’s degree in Management and the bachelor’s degree
in Legal Studies can now be completed while staying in Charlotte
County. And current RN’s, with two year degrees, can now move
up to the Bachelors of Science in Nursing or the Master of Science
in Nursing. Other full degree programs are in the planning stages
of FGCU-Charlotte.
The
Long Term Recovery Plan is exactly as the title indicates and
the proposals outlined in the plan will assist in the endeavors
to continue to keep Charlotte County the special place it is.
Betty Williams is economic development manager for the Charlotte
County Economic Development Office (www.PureEconomics.org) and
email: PureEconomics@charlottecountyfl.com.
