QUINTER – A technical education facility that teaches young people work skills in demand in Northwest Kansas started classes for its first nine students in August.

The building at 102 Sunset Avenue in Quinter was purchased in May largely with grant funds. The shop area was rebuilt with a lot of volunteer labor before classes could start.

The Gove County Technical Education facility operates as a satellite location for Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland. Budget cuts at area high schools had caused cutbacks in or elimination of vocational education programs, and at the facility high school students can receive dual credit vocational training in auto body repair, auto mechanics, welding, HVAC, construction and commercial driver’s license. Recently, allied health courses were added.