ECISD energy class

When ECISD classes start next fall, some teachers will be drilling things about drilling into the heads of students who have the energy to study energy.

Representatives from energy companies, the Ector County Independent School District and Odessa College unveiled an energy class that will be offered at ECISD beginning next fall during a news conference Monday afternoon at the Odessa Chamber of Commerce.

The representatives make up the ECISD Energy Curriculum Committee, which has been meeting for more than six months to create a curriculum for a survey class of the energy industry.

"Energy is and always will be a big employer in the Permian Basin and by educating the students, we’re trying to provide a better local workforce to choose from," ECISD Energy Curriculum committee chairman Ted Hogan said.

Chevron North America community representative Dolores Vick said she and other committee members have been hammering out the details of an energy course that would comply with Texas Education Association’s curriculum requirements.

The class, Energy and Natural Resource Technology, will be offered to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors in next fall at ECISD’s Advanced Technical Center. The course is divided into six modules covering everything from the production of oil and natural gas to how clean coal technology is being developed. Safety will also be emphasized in all sections of the course, Vick said.

Committee member Jet Brown said he was pleased with the emphasis on safety in the course.

"A lot of people get hurt working in the energy field, and hopefully, if they get a little better educated on safety, it will help change that," Brown said.

ECISD Career and Technology director Ian Roark said they are hoping that 20 to 25 students will enroll in the course for the fall semester.

"When you start (a new program) you’re not looking to have big numbers, so we’re prepared for that," Roark said.

The committee has organized a series of job fairs this week where local representatives from energy companies will talk to students as a way of promoting the course. The representatives will tell students about the new course, describe the different career opportunities available in the energy field and outline qualifications, Hogan said.

Vick said Chevron North America was particularly enthusiastic about the project because the company wants to recruit more from the West Texas area.

"More than 80 percent of our production comes from Midland and Odessa, but we don’t have any recruiting here. We have to go to East Texas or South Texas or Oklahoma to get people with the training we require," Vick said.

Vick said she cannot confirm a trend within the energy field, but Chevron North America now only hires people who hold at least an associate’s degree in energy.

Members of the committee all agreed that they are hoping that students who enroll in the course will opt to take the dual credit courses offered by ECISD and Odessa College. The college will offer four classes with four hours of credit per class to high school students who have completed the introductory class. Upon completing these classes, students will have earned a level one electronic certification from Odessa College, OC curriculum and outreach specialist Carla Clark said.

IF YOU GO

Three energy student job fairs are scheduled at the following times and places:

>> 8:40 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. Wednesday at Odessa High.

>> 8:40 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. Thursday at Advanced Technical Center.

>> 8:40 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. Friday at Permian High.