More than 4,000 people got involved with a click or a comment on a Wednesday story that almost did not run.
Mayor Glenn Jacobs is asking Knox County Commission to approve a lease and sublease to establish his vision for job training, the Construction Trades Academy.
Basically, Jacobs wants to lease 16,200 square feet of warehouse space from John H. Daniel Company at 1803 N. Central Street. The county would pay $145,800 per year for two years with a three percent increase each subsequent year. The term would be five years with the option to renew for another five.
Then, Jacobs wants to sublease the space to Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee (ABC) for $6,000 per year, starting on year two, with no escalator clause. If Larry Van Guilder worked here, he would do the math. The result would be grim.
With a column named “Let’s Talk,” it’s funny how sometimes I just don’t want to.
On Tuesday, Beth Kinnane (our community news editor) asked Mike Donila (a solid reporter who now does PR for Knox County) to summarize the proposed Construction Trades Academy. Mike did so and Beth set up his story to run on Wednesday.
“We can’t do this,” I said. “It’s one thing for Mike to update us on maintenance projects and activities at county parks, but we need a reporter to tackle this story.” It’s a policy decision with pros and cons, winners and losers.
But Knox TN Today’s news team is me and Beth plus our columnists. I made two decisions. We published Mike’s story and I called Van Guilder and made a deal to get him back here in January.
And then the most amazing thing occurred. Readers got involved and a lively debate ensued. Some of those comments are below. But first, let me say, I would vote no if I were on the commission.
Tim Burchett once said before he would start a new program he would look in the phone book to see if someone was already doing it. If they were, he would not compete. That’s a good policy for government.
Here are some statements from Mike’s story:
- He calls it START or Skilled Trades Academy and Regional Training Center
- The state will kick in $1 million to ABC to build out the center with classroom space and areas for training
- The curriculum is Department of Labor-approved, and programs are taught by instructors currently practicing their trade in the field.
- The classes will be held 4-7 p.m. to allow students to work during the day, and the programs will take four years to complete. The county expects 50 to 75 students to attend during the first year.
- The academy is open to anyone. The cost will be around $2,000 per student per year.
Reader comments
Bob Fischer chimed in first: “Hopefully, this will create strong union jobs complete with comprehensive health insurance, pensions and middle-class wages that allow individuals to start and raise families. We have a shortage of those jobs.”
Tamara Shepherd called it “union busting.” She said training in trades occupations has long been the province of trade unions, who have long conducted five-year “paid” apprenticeships for their recruits. She doesn’t support public monies being used to underwrite this proposed private institution, and says the new academy would “flood the market with non-unionized newbies eager to nab the jobs to which their union-affiliated peers in apprenticeships also aspire.”
Brian Griffin joked that “Yeah, (Mayor Jacobs) really should learn a trade.”
Peggy Wilson asked, “Why are you duplicating programs that are already offered in Knox County at the College of Applied Technology and at Pellissippi State Community College?” She said those programs are accredited by national organizations, and this is not in the best interest of the students nor is it good use of county funds.
Samuel Alexander: The Knoxville Building Trades are constantly recruiting, with free training, pay and benefits.
Richard Swan: Finally, a government official who understands that jobs solve so many problems.
Kathryn Allen Waggoner: Thank you, Mayor Jacobs.
June Heath Jones: This totally makes no sense when we have the labor unions of all trades here and training.
Others: “Hope this is approved.” “So needed.” “Great idea.” “Much needed.” “This school is an effort to increase opportunities for people wanting to enter the trades. … Only 7% of the workforce in this state is union. Not everyone wants to join the union.” “A shady deal.” “Wish they’d finish Schaad Road and get 640 paved first!”
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.