LAHARPE — Anyone who’s curious about the Regional Rural Technical Center in LaHarpe will have a chance to see the facility and equipment at an open house on Tuesday.
The tech center will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. for prospective students, and from 3 to 6:30 p.m. for the community.
Representatives from participating colleges will be available to explain programs and answer enrollment questions. High school juniors and seniors, and adults can take courses at RRTC earning certificates in a variety of areas. Next year, the center will offer CNA, phlebotomy, wind, automotive, welding, and construction programs.
Neosho County Community College offers the welding program and is looking for an instructor to teach an evening welding class, which would be open to adults, USD 257 Superintendent Stacey Fager said.
For those who might be interested in taking the course, Tuesday’s open house will be a good opportunity to check out the equipment and classroom, Fager said.
In December, the RRTC offered an open house for the new automotive program, which began in the fall. The facility has not otherwise offered an open house for the general public since the facility first opened in 2018, though prospective high school students visit each year.
The tech center opened in 2016 at LaHarpe, after local businessman Ray Maloney purchased the former Diebolt Lumber property and donated a building to the school district. It continues to grow with new programs added about every year. Next year, the RRTC will add a phlebotomy class for the health program.
The center is a cooperative effort among the Iola, Colony, Moran and Uniontown districts. Students also attend from other area districts.
