5 THINGS: Incumbent faces challenge in ICTC board race

Mar. 26—Incumbent Indian Capital Technology Center board member Monte Madewell faces a reelection challenge from former ICTC Stilwell campus director David West. They answered the following questions about their candidacy.

1 Why are you running for the ICTC Board of Education?

MADEWELL: "I am running for the ICTC Board of Education because I am deeply committed to advancing career-tech education in Oklahoma. My 47 years in education, coupled with my upbringing in a blue collar family, gives me insight into the importance of growing a strong career tech system. ICTC plays a crucial role in preparing a skilled workforce for our communities, and I want to continue being a part of its success. Simply put, I was raised with a sense of responsibility and obligation to be a contributing member of society. I feel that being a board member at ICTC allows me to meet the obligation of giving back and to make a positive impact. ICTC has been ranked the number one career-tech center in the state two out of the last three years and was most recently ranked the number one tech center in the US for 2023. I want to help keep ICTC moving forward."

WEST: "ICTC is currently training only 18.6% of the eligible juniors and seniors in the district according to the ODCTE website. I would like to see more high school students receive the credentials necessary to become part of the workforce after high school graduation. Statistics show that only 40% of students continue to college right after high school, and only half of those obtain a college degree four years later. It is important that we have options available for students who want to enter the workforce upon high school graduation or who may want to gain additional skills that will enhance their college degree. ICTC has been closing programs on the Muskogee campus that are needed for training students in the trades such as carpentry, automotive service, computer aided drafting and welding, to name just a few. As a board member I would work hard to increase the opportunities available rather than decrease them. My platform is 'Save the Trades.'"

2 What are your main qualifications for this position?

WEST: "I worked at Indian Capital Technology Center at both the local campus level and district level and was a member of their leadership team for 25 years. I was also trained in leadership by the ODCTE at the state level with people from the other technology centers. I know the inner workings of ICTC and the Oklahoma Career Tech system. Under my leadership as Business and Industry Services Director, ICTC became number three in the state in enrollments. I was responsible for meeting the industry-training needs for businesses in our district on a daily basis. I believe the Lord has prepared me my whole life for this position, that is why I have on my campaign literature 'For such a time as this.'"

MADEWELL: "I believe I have numerous qualifications for this position. My main qualification is my experience. I have been on the ICTC board for a number of years and have a full grasp of the workings of career-tech. My personal career in education spans 47 years. This includes public school and college teacher, coach, and administrator. My roles in these positions bring insight and understanding of the importance of things such as analyzing data to make informed decisions, building relationships with communities through communication, collaboration, and partnerships, student centered instruction, with career-based outcomes and objectives, knowledge of laws and regulations in regard to educational finance, development of a workplace environment that sets high standards and cultivates positivity and innovation for all employees."

3 What is the main mission of career-tech education, and how do you seek to fulfill it?

MADEWELL: "It's all about jobs! Career-tech education, as the workforce engines of Oklahoma's education system, aims to train a quality workforce for evolving business and industry needs.In pursuit of this mission, ICTC is a facilitator for our students who wish to master skills for future careers. This involves staying informed about changing demands, adapting program offerings, and ensuring students acquire skills for success in high-demand, high-wage fields. My role as a board member and a representative of the community, in fulfilling this mission is threefold. First, ensuring that we have a highly qualified administrative team with the knowledge and expertise that is needed. Second is to work with that administrative team in developing policies, procedures and best practices to bring about the best possible outcomes for our students and staff. Third, my role as a board member is to assure that these policies and procedures are being followed. Bottom line, it's all about jobs."

WEST: "The mission is to create a world class workforce so that students will obtain industry-recognized certifications and credentials which will lead to good paying jobs. ICTC fulfills this mission by providing top-notch instructors who can teach their trade skills to students who have the interest and aptitude to be successful in a career."

4 How should ICTC keep up with changing technology and work-force trends?

WEST: "ICTC needs to develop strong partnerships with our local business and industry workforce partners to find out what the needs are in our communities, and then offer programs that will meet those needs. By working with our state Career Tech agency, we will be able to develop training programs to meet the latest trends and technology for this area. The important decision of what should be offered at an area campus should be based on the local needs of the community."

MADEWELL: "ICTC ensures relevance amidst evolving technology and workforce trends by embracing a data-driven approach, incorporating feedback from advisory teams, and conducting regular surveys of students and industry partners. By analyzing data from sources like the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and collaborating with stakeholders, ICTC identifies emerging needs and tailors programs accordingly. For instance, our partnership facilitated the recruitment of Provalus to Tahlequah, resulting in the creation of over 200 IT jobs. By introducing new IT programs, ICTC played a pivotal role in supplying the necessary workforce. This success underscores the importance of staying proactive and responsive to changing demands. Program offerings must be based on demand/participation. This may mean closing and replacing courses which don't meet demand. I'm committed to upholding this process in order to not only meet demand but to make best use of taxpayer dollars."

5 How should ICTC meet the area's work force needs?

MADEWELL: "ICTC addresses diverse workforce needs by offering programs in trades, healthcare, IT, business, and many other fields. This balanced approach aligns training with job demand and student interests, fostering economic growth across various sectors. Narrowing focus to a single area risks neglecting other industries, undermining overall economic health. A broad curriculum ensures our service area thrives by supplying skilled workers across sectors, fueling growth for businesses and industries alike. Thus, ICTC's adaptable programs not only meet workforce needs but also cultivate valuable career opportunities for students, fostering a robust and sustainable local economy. This fall ICTC will be opening a new campus in Coweta. This not only will give closer access to students in Wagoner County, it will allow for growth at our Muskogee campus."

WEST: "The Business and Industry Services can customize training plans to meet area businesses' immediate needs. The day programs depend upon the recruitment and placement of the right student in the right program through our student services staff. In my opinion this is a critical link that needs to be strengthened by more resources. This staff needs to be given the additional personnel and support to be able to recruit, support, and place these students after graduation."

— Cathy Spaulding