Houston, Mo. – City of Houston Mayor Viki Narancich, State Senator Karla Eslinger (R-Wasola), Representative Travis Smith (R-Dora) & Representative Bennie Cook recently embarked on a tour of the Piney River Technical Center (PRTC) in Houston. During their visit, they had the opportunity to engage with the Houston R-1 Administration, as well as interact with students and staff at PRTC.
“It was an exciting opportunity to see this facility and learn how it’s teaching students life skills that will impact their future,” said Cook, R-Houston.
In 2021, the Houston R-I School district purchased the Piney River Technical Center (PRTC) from Houston’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) through a lease purchase for $845,000.
The center offers a wide range of programs in Agriculture, Building Trades, Business, Family and Consumer Science, Health Sciences (including Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, and EKG), as well as Welding (I and II). Furthermore, there are plans for further program development and the introduction of adult classes in the future.
“It’s an exciting time in Houston to witness the growth and focus on Career Technical Education! We look forward to working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and other local and regional partners to expand our career center to those within the Houston District and surrounding communities,” stated Houston R-1 District Superintendent.
Notably, students from not only the Houston R-1 District but also neighboring districts in the region have been taking advantage of the program offerings at PRTC. Thus far, students from Summersville and Plato School Districts have benefited from these opportunities.
PRTC’s primary goals are to provide high quality learning experiences so that students may successfully obtain respective certifications, produce employable individuals that will immediately enter the workforce upon graduation or prepare them for post-secondary education, and retain highly qualified professionals in and around the Houston Community.
“We are very proud of the programs and staff that make up our CTE Department. I have the privilege of having a front row seat to witness the amazing work and learning that takes place on a daily basis. Although we are so very proud, we also know we have a vision bigger than what we have. We believe Houston High School is and should be the Career and Technical hub of Texas County. There are great things happening at PRTC right now and we are excited to see what the future holds for our students and programs,” stated Houston R-1 High School Principal.
Cook commended the remarkable work-taking place at the PRTC, saying, “The work being done at the PRTC is something to be proud of, and I know they will give area students a solid educational foundation for generations to come. I look forward to working with the school and (DESE) to expand the opportunities at the PRTC.”
