EVIT Superintendent Dr. Sally Downey visited Fountain Hills last Friday, Oct. 28, to host a community forum. Joined by Fountain Hills Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sweeney and playing host to residents, local professionals and community leaders, the purpose of the event was to get the discussion rolling on what programs should be offered on the local campus.

“We never know what will take hold,” Downey said. “We throw a net and see what people want. From there, we expand what’s popular and gains success.”

Earlier this year, FHUSD entered into a lease agreement with EVIT for the building that used to house the Four Peaks Elementary School. EVIT will host courses locally starting next fall but, before that can happen, Downey wants to get some input from local stakeholders as to what courses might do well in Fountain Hills.

Currently, several Fountain Hills High School students bus to other EVIT campuses to take advantage of their standard and dual-enrollment programming. With programs here in town, students won’t have to travel very far to take advantage of these additional educational opportunities and, with courses open to all districts under the EVIT umbrella, the programs may attract students from surrounding communities.

According to a survey passed out during the community forum, “EVIT wants to develop career training programs that are not only of interest to students, but that also meet the needs of business and industry and the Fountain Hills community.”

Working with the local Economic Development Office, a handful of key areas have so far been identified, including finance and insurance, health care and wellness, as well as professional, technical and scientific services.

The remainder of the survey was a questionnaire inviting participants to select programs that would be potential good fits in the area. The same sort of questionnaire will also be offered to students in order to narrow down a roster of initial course offerings.

From culinary arts and cosmetology to dental assistant, massage therapy, veterinary assistant, plumbing, electrical and beyond, Downey said the “sky is the limit” when it comes to what programs can grow once the local campus has been established.

“I don’t know what will evolve here, but we’re not going to stop anything that’s already going. I want to put everyone’s mind at ease about that,” Downey said. “We aim to meet the needs of the community…I say every scholar needs a skill and, if I can find your passion, I can turn it into a paycheck for you.”

According to Downey, EVIT programs offer many benefits, including certification and, for high school students, a tuition-free career and technical education.

Downey said that EVIT students are frequently more engaged in their programs because they are involved in what they are passionate about.

“That’s the importance of getting students in the right programs and bringing the right programs closer to home,” she continued.

While Downey said that options will begin on a smaller scale and grow over time, Sweeney said the hope is that more students than ever will take advantage of these courses due to the near lack of a commute.

Downey said that she’s happy to see the old mindset of what career and technical education is all about begin to shift. With certification, students can move directly into the workforce following high school though, as Downey tells it, two out of three EVIT students decide to continue their education following high school graduation.

“EVIT allows students to get excited about education and find their passion early,” she continued. “And if you find out that what you thought you wanted to do isn’t for you well, guess what, you got to do that tuition-free.”

Downey said that there is an extreme need for qualified employees, not only nationally, but right here in Fountain Hills. As pointed out by participants at the forum, this dovetails nicely with the current direction of the Vision Fountain Hills group and the Town Council; aiming to draw more young professionals and families to town.

With doors on the local EVIT campus expected to open next August, Downey said the discussion on possible courses will roll into early 2017. From there, work will begin on equipping the campus with whatever is needed to begin classes next fall. With a big facility to grow into, she said she’s looking forward to seeing what the future holds for EVIT and Fountain Hills.

For more information on EVIT, visit evit.com.