Schools mull manufacturing option for Middle College

Rita Needham, executive director of the Southwest Area Manufacturers Association, said the group is working with SPS and Ozarks Technical Community College to create a manufacturing-specific component to the Middle College program.

OTC’s Middle College is designed for high school students who may not be suited for traditional college but have the potential to remain in school in a nontraditional setting. Students can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and college credits, and they’re also given the opportunity to participate in manufacturing internships.

“We brought a large number of our manufacturers together with OTC and explained what the Middle College was,” Needham said. “They were very enthused about the possibility.”

High school juniors and seniors would spend their last two years at OTC, Needham said, finishing their high-school requirements while taking OTC manufacturing courses. If SPS and OTC approve the plan, students could begin in the program in fall 2009.

OTC and SPS officials plan to meet this week to approve manufacturing and medical focuses for the 2009 Middle College program.