Page County Technical Center reports 209 credentials, urges support for expansion
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Summary
At the Jan. 22 Page County School Board meeting, PCTC leaders said students earned 209 industry credentials in 2024–25, highlighted high pass rates in cosmetology, medical assisting, nurse aide and electrical programs, and described community partnerships and space limits that constrain growth.
Leanne Pettit, principal of the Page County Technical Center, told the Page County School Board on Jan. 22 that the center’s students earned 209 industry-recognized credentials in the 2024–25 school year and recorded strong pass rates in multiple programs.
"Hands on learning is like the heartbeat of the program," Pettit said, describing the center’s emphasis on applied instruction that pairs classroom theory with lab work. She and Tommy Fitz, the center’s career-technical supervisor, said students achieved 100% pass rates in several areas (cosmetology, certified medical assistant, nurse-aide core assessments) and strong outcomes in ASE automotive credentials and electrical credentials.
Pettit and Fitz also outlined a range of community partnerships that support training and placement. Examples include assistance to local events and entities (temporary power for a tourism council chili cook-off, LED upgrades for the Luray police department tower) and material or equipment donations from groups such as the Shenandoah VFW. Charlie Morris, the welding instructor, was credited with outreach that generated donations and in-kind support for welding and related shops.
The presentation highlighted PCTC events designed to recruit and prepare future students: a company "signing day" with employer placements, a Day in the Life event for tenth graders on March 23, and a fifth-grade expo on April 17 where elementary students rotate through demonstration tables for each CTE course.
Board members raised capacity concerns. Pettit said typical daily enrollment ranges around 150 students across morning and afternoon sessions, and several programs are capped by space or equipment limits (for example, 15 welding booths and a 16-seat cosmetology lab), producing wait lists. She said adult tuition is currently $3,000 per year for in-county students and $3,500 for out-of-county adult students in programs such as cosmetology and practical nursing.
Pettit urged the board to consider facility options and noted the center’s inclusion in broader facility-study conversations. She recommended continued coordination with county supervisors if the district seeks expansion or additional CIP funding.
The board thanked PCTC staff for the presentation and encouraged continued outreach with local employers and partners.