Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center wants to reintroduce adult education courses, beginning with a tuition-free machinist training program this summer.

The Derry Township technology center is the latest site for the grant-supported Manufacturing 2000 training program, offered in partnership with Pittsburgh’s New Century Careers workforce development organization.

June 10 is the tentative start date for the machinist training, which will be offered 4 to 9 p.m. weekdays year-round during a two-year agreement with New Century. The program also is offered at other times in McKeesport and on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

“We want to provide a feeder system for our local manufacturers and to provide opportunities to the underemployed and unemployed,” said Todd Weimer, administrative director at Eastern Westmoreland. “There are good-paying jobs in our area that we can’t fill right now because we don’t have the people with the expertise in machining.”

Applicants for the program must be 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent and pass an aptitude test. Those who enroll have flexibility in scheduling training sessions at Eastern Westmoreland and can proceed at their own pace through up to three skill levels, ranging from 250 hours of training to 600 hours. They can learn skills needed to become a machine operator or entry-level machinist.

Through the partnership, the technology center will gain a second Haas Mini Mill for its machine tool technology program. The center’s joint operating committee this week approved spending $4,870 toward purchase of the machine, with the remaining $25,000 covered by New Century.

An Eastern Westmoreland instructor and local machinists have agreed to lead the training sessions, Weimer said. The joint operating committee hired Elaine Klofta and Linda Miller to work with the program as adult education secretaries, each at $15 per hour for up to 25 hours per week.

“This will be the beginning of bringing adult education back to our school,” Weimer said, since the school will be operating during evenings and has the two new secretaries on board.

Weimer said the technology center hopes to introduce additional adult education courses — requiring tuition — in the fall.

In the past, the school taught adult courses in several areas, including automotive, masonry and cabinetmaking. Weimer said the goal is to offer new courses that would allow students to gain industry certifications.

More information about the machinist training is available by contacting rosenberg@ncsquared.com, zema@ncsquared.com or 800-822-9337.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)