Students in Greene County now have free rides to and from the County’s career center in thanks to a grant from Alabama power and the West Alabama action group.
The board of education stated transportation can be a huge barrier for students in rural Alabama who are looking to pursue technical and trade opportunities.
One student Bryan Davis, a senior at Greene County high school is currently in the hvac program at the career center.
Davis said his dual enrollment classes at Wallace State have more than prepared him for life after high school.
“Really what I have to do to fix it, he gave me more experience, so I know what to expect when I go out to do a job now,” said Davis.
Now this grant will help other Greene County schools’ students get the same opportunity.
“Be able to help these students here in Greene County get transportation to Wallace which is about a 30-minute drive away and being in a rural area most of these children do not have vehicles that they can drive themselves,” said West Alabama action group member Mia Eubanks.
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Greene County career center director Teresa Atkins explained that the money will be used for transportation for high school students to get to and from the center.
“We want to remove as many barriers as possible and that’s a part of what jag does as well, so they help them prepare for the things outside, wherever they want to transition to whether it be work, college, or the military,” said Atkins.
Atkins stated the courses are free, 10th grade students and above can register for modern manufacturing, marketing, cosmetology and business administration.
“We graduate a good number of welding students in the 11th grade each year. So, think we had 12 graduates back in the spring and they actually get to finish the certificate program and walk in graduation,” said Atkins.
Soon Atkins stated they’re also looking at providing transportation for students during the summer months to attend classes at Wallace State in Demopolis.
