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Rowanty Technical Center seeks to expand health‑science and manufacturing programs after surge in interest
Summary
Principal Dr. Paul Lathrop reported 254 students enrolled at Rowanty this year and outlined expansion plans, new dual‑enrollment agreements with Brightpoint, a $625,000 Go Virginia/Cameron Foundation grant application and stronger industry certification pathways.
Dr. Paul Lathrop, principal of Rowanty Technical Center, told the Dinwiddie County School Board that the center enrolled 254 students this school year, including 122 from Dinwiddie High School, and outlined plans to expand health‑science and engineering/manufacturing offerings.
“By the numbers, Rowanty, this current school year, we have 254 students of which 122 are Dinwiddie High School students,” Lathrop said. He described nine programs currently offered and noted that criminal justice had been closed midyear after a teacher left; those students completed their credits and dual‑enrollment students continued asynchronously.
Why it matters: Lathrop said student interest in health sciences and engineering has outpaced current capacity. He said the center has 40 spots for nurse‑aide instruction and turned away interested students; expanding dual‑enrollment agreements and securing grant funding are central to the plan to grow capacity and industry certification opportunities.
Details from the presentation
- Programs and participation: Rowanty currently offers nine programs. Lathrop reported 787 work‑based learning experiences this year, 306 guest speakers, 32 service‑learning experiences, 66 school‑based enterprise experiences and 35 nurse‑aide students completing at least 40 hours of direct patient care.
- Dual enrollment and partnerships: Rowanty signed an agreement to offer nurse‑aide as dual enrollment with Brightpoint beginning next school year; welding is being considered for dual enrollment pending staffing. Lathrop said Brightpoint conversations could also allow an engineering/manufacturing program to carry dual credits if grant funding is secured.
- Grant application: Lathrop said the division wrote a grant through Go Virginia in conjunction with the Cameron Foundation for $625,000 to expand engineering and manufacturing capacity. “We've written a grant through Go Virginia in conjunction with the Cameron Foundation for $625,000 worth of funding,” he said, adding that the submission shows a projected return on investment.
- Credentials and competitions: Rowanty reopened a National Technical Honor Society chapter and had five students qualify for the SkillsUSA state championships. Lathrop noted two students last year received associate degrees and 16 students are on course this year to receive associate degrees.
Board follow‑up and context
Board members praised Lathrop’s early work since assuming the principal role and asked about dual‑enrollment capacity and staffing. Dr. Weston and staff said the division is pursuing increased dual‑enrollment seats with Brightpoint and examining staffing needs; welding teacher retirement and other staffing transitions were noted as items already under recruitment.
Ending
Lathrop closed by laying out upcoming events and recruitment efforts, including a reverse career fair and a trades interview day designed to place students in local jobs or to prepare them for college. He said the division intends to align Rowanty's programs with local labor demand and industry certification pathways.
