Construction Occupations Meeting
Date: July 14, 2015
Location: Omni Hotel (Houston, Texas)
1. Raymond Bannert called the meeting to order.
2. Mickey Ethridge gave a TEKS update.
a. State to vote this next month on current TEKS.
b. New TEKS will not go into effect until 2017-18 school year.
3. Vendor presentation made by Texas Masonry Council and UT Arlington.
a. Trade Education Center concerning eight week brick and block laying course
b. 40 hours per week, job interviews last week, total cost $2,850 with scholarships/grants available
4. Vendor presentation made by David Barron in regard to high school curriculum materials and certification through the Texas Builder’s Foundation.
a. Apprenticeship program in Houston plus high school outreach program
b. Training paid by employer
c. No cost to certify students at high school level; however, there is a reasonable cost (less than $25 per book) for curriculum materials – softcover books & software
5. Discussion of District and State SkillsUSA competitions. Raymond Bannert talked about increasing the number competing in Community Action Program (need to be in SE VAC occupational skills program like CBVI).
6. Discussion of next year’s conference & additional training opportunities such as on-site visits. To be discussed further at Midwinter conference.
7. Announcements/general information: Mickey Ethridge shared an incredible story of two students that attribute their success in becoming millionaires in the construction industry as a result of having Mickey as their teacher. These two students took Mickey on an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas as a way of saying “Thank you”.