More to come later, but details were unveiled today for a proposed vocational high school that would be run under a partnership of the Wake County school system and Wake Technical Community College.

The career and technical education high school would open in August 2013 and offer courses in areas such as air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, biopharmaceuticals, collision repair, cosmetology, plumbing, game development and welding. Pending an approved lease, it would be located at the former Coca-Cola Bottling Facility at 2200 South Wilmington Street in Raleigh.

In addition to working with high school students, the facility would offer evening technical courses for adults.

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST FOR HANDOUT ABOUT CTE HIGH SCHOOL

School funding and the long-proposed career technical/vocational high school are on the agenda for today's joint meeting of the Wake County school board and county commissioners.

Superintendent Tony Tata and Wake Tech Community College President Stephen Scott will talk about a potential career and technical education high school partnership. The idea of beefing up the vocational programs for high school students in Wake has been talked about for a long time.

After getting an update on the county's economic situation, both boards will discuss Tata's budget proposal. It's not expected that Tata's proposed $8.8 million increase from the county will get a warm reception from the commissioners.

You may also hear discussion about when a school construction bond issue might be put on the ballot in 2013.

Wake Tech is teaming up with Raleigh's Office of Sustainability to offer a series of green courses, with the first class beginning today.

Are you an amateur or experienced diesel engineer and want to learn how to make biodiesel from vegetable oil? Wake Technical Community College is hosting a two-day biodiesel workshop on Feb. 16-17.

Tryouts for the golf teams at Wake Technical College will be held Sept. 13-14 at 1:30 p.m. at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Raleigh. Prior to tryouts, an NJCAA Eligibility Affidavit and Sports Medicine Packet (signed and stamped by a doctor)  must be completed and submitted to the Athletics Dept. or golf coach. For more info, contact Coach Wilkinson at 866-5512 or atwilkinson@waketech.edu.
 

Three local colleges have been recognized as top places to work.

Elon and Duke universities and Wake Technical Community College made the latest "Great Colleges to Work For" survey from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The Chronicle, a national trade publication covering higher education issues, noted 97 of 275 universities it surveyed. Designated universities had to stand out in at least 1 of 12 categories the magazine deemed crucial to maintaining a good workplace.

Wake Tech was honored in five categories:  collaborative governance, job satisfaction and support, confidence in senior leadership, supervisor or department chair relationship, and respect and appreciation. In addition, Wake Tech was named to the 2010 Great Colleges Honor Roll for receiving the most recognition in its size category.

Duke was recognized for facilities, workspaces and security, while Elon ranked high for collaborative governance, teaching environment, facilities, workspaces and security, confidence in senior leadership, and respect and appreciation.

Fuquay-Varina's Scott Colley, who played golf at Wake Tech last season, will transfer to UNC-Pembroke. after earning junior college All-America honors.

From the Wake Tech athletics site: 

Wake Tech Open Baseball Workout

Sunday, April 25th

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

USA Baseball Complex

(200 Brooks Park Lane Cary, NC 27519)

This workout is for non-signed seniors
who have an interest in playing for Wake Tech next year. For more information, please contact Coach Kiec @ cpkiec@waketech.edu.

The state's community college system is honoring its best and brightest today.

Among honorees today are 58 students, one from each of the state's community colleges, who will receive the system's Academic Excellence Award.

Local winners include:

Melissa S. Dean of Alamance Community College

Christopher Ryan Hart of Durham Technical Community College

Joshua McCune of Johnston Community College

Sharon Ingandela of Vance-Granville Community College

Aneta K. Mrozek of Wake Technical Community College

In addition, The Gov. Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award winner is Antonio McNeill of Johnston Community College.

Wake Technical Community College and Wachovia announced this morning that they're forming a new center to help local entrepreneurs.

Wachovia, owned by Wells Fargo, will contribute $150,000 to the center. Wake Tech is seeking other sponsors.

"Entrepreneurs are the life blood of our economy and their success will help our city and country emerge from this economic downturn," said Jack Clayton, Triangle East Regional President for Wachovia, in a prepared statement.

The Wachovia Wells Fargo Center for Entrepreneurship will be managed by Wake Tech's Business and Industry Center.

The news comes as lawmakers increase pressure on banks to lend more money to support businesses and spur job creation. On Monday, President Barack Obama met with executives from some of the country's biggest banks and urged them to increase lending.