DMACC will not provide welding instructor this fall; district hopes to restart in spring

At the Nevada Community School District Board of Education meeting on Aug. 18, Speaker 4 told trustees that Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) will not provide an instructor for the district’s welding class this fall, forcing enrolled students into other courses.

"We've learned that DMACC does not have an instructor for our welding program this fall," Speaker 4 said, and added that the change affects about 6 or 7 students out of roughly 15–16 available seats. The board and administration discussed options but said the district cannot simply hire an instructor for a DMACC course because the class is offered through the college.

Speaker 4 described the circumstances: the long-time DMACC instructor was told by a new dean that he would need to take two additional courses to remain qualified; the instructor asked if he could test out of those courses, and Speaker 4 said that request was denied. The board discussed outreach to local employers and individual instructors but noted certification and college-program constraints limit short-term alternatives.

Board members said they would try to recruit an instructor for the spring semester; Speaker 4 said administrators are "fingers crossed" that DMACC can provide someone for the second semester. No formal board action was taken during the meeting.

The district described the welding program as a long-standing offering that has served students for many years; officials said they consider it "a really successful program" and hope to restore it when a qualified instructor is available.