Nearly 2,000 Spartanburg County high school students take classes at R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center each year.
“If they are patient, we can get them through our program," said director Sherri Yarborough.
RDA offers a number of programs to students who want to earn college credits while training for the workforce.
“We get calls every single day from business and industry who want our students,” Yarborough adds.
Interest in the school’s Machine Tool Technology program has increased by 50 percent in the last two years.
Only 100 students can take the course due to personnel and equipment limitations, even though the demand is present.
According to Yarborough, budget cuts to education have not allowed the school to hire an additional instructor. RDA experienced a loss of nearly $57,000 for the 2011-2012 school year.
Currently, there is a waiting list for Machine Tool Technology.
“I had one student that did make it back this year and he was very adamant about wanting to get in," said instructor Jonathan Rice.
Students can enroll in the course during their sophomore year, but then will often have to wait until their senior year before they can get into the next level, which is the most important class because that is when students will receive hands-on training.
Machine Shop Services has recruited students from RDA to work while they're in school and after they graduate.
"There is a shortage of good machinists in this area,” said Tommy Gillespie.
Gillespie says the resurgence of manufacturing, especially in the Upstate, has caused companies to become competitive when seeking new employees
“I feel like companies would look elsewhere, if they don't have enough people in this area to man their force."
Gillespie is like educators at RDA, who believe it’s vital to keep Machine Tool Technology programs running. Otherwise, South Carolina could lose out on more than just students.
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