- May 2, 2024
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Students in the Heavy Equipment Operations Technician program offered at Flagler Technical College and Flagler County’s two high schools will now be able to train with a bulldozer that was delivered last week to the Florida Agricultural Museum, the site of FTC’s off-campus facility.
FTC Director Renee Kirkland, Coordinator Chris McDermott and program instructor Ken Rucker joined the class on March 4 for the delivery, according to a Flagler Schools press release.
Last year, the program acquired a new wheeled skid steer for the students receiving training with various pieces of heavy equipment used in construction.
The focus of the program is to provide hands-on training to future professionals in the heavy equipment construction industry. This Career and Technical Education offering has been available to students since the 2018-19 school year, according to the press release.
“The (students) get a certification on operating each of these once they finish the program,” McDermott said. “Ken certifies the classes they go through for each piece of equipment.” Students undergo a minimum of 900 hours of instruction before they can complete the program.
The Heavy Equipment Operational Technician program is one of 76 CTE programs offered by Flagler Schools. The programs prepare students for high-wage, high-skill careers that are in high demand.
The latest data shows that nearly 99 percent of Flagler Schools students who take at least one CTE course will earn their high school diploma. Nearly half of the district’s high school and middle school students participate in CTE courses.
