Placer School for Adults courses target several areas of study

It's no secret businesses are looking for workers. On the other hand, many people decided in the last two years to either look for another line of work or quit work altogether. The bottom line is there job openings in various fields. Either way, education and/or training is required, and the Placer School for Adults has targeted several industries for the winter/spring spring term that opened Jan. 4. Some courses are being offered in person and others online. In addition to mainstay courses leading to a high school diploma, GED and English as a Second Language, Placer School for Adults offers classes geared for industry. Principal Eric Vereyken said some classes were created based on labor market information. "People in some circumstances are looking at work they have been doing. Adult school can help people retool to try something different or enter a career for the first time," he said. "We know there's a shortage of construction workers. Contractors and homebuilders are struggling. They want folks with basic skill." The school's construction pre-apprenticeship program includes OSHA 10 instruction and certification and will be held on Saturdays from Feb. 19 through May 11. The Clinical Medical Assistant program is six months and can get students "certified and ready" for the state or national CMA exam, Vereyken said. "The health industry is clamoring for CMAs, and a high percentage of folks get employment after completing the course." Vereyken said there also is a high need in home care aid, and Placer School for Adults has a course offering the basics. "This being a community with a significant number of retirees, we're finding there is a need to have individuals come in and support maybe running errands, food preparation, companionship," he said. "This class provides information on HIPAA requirements, nutrition, communication, personal care safety and mobility, and a host of topics to prepare someone in this field." An orientation for the class is scheduled for Feb. 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. on campus. Vereyken also highlighted instruction assistant training, which will be offered on Saturdays for one month, from March 5 to April 2. The class will offer preliminary training in the roles and responsibilities of instructional aides, including special education services and working in a school environment to support teachers and instruction, Vereyken said. "One thing we're seeing across the state is a need for instructional aides," he said. "We want to give people a leg up for this kind of class." Those interested can visit placeronline.org for more information.