Harvest, Huntsville, Madison, Monrovia, News, Schools, Unincorporated Madison County
 By  GreggParker Published 
10:50 am Tuesday, September 1, 2015

County schools offer plumbing, pipefitting

Madison County Schools Superintendent Matt Massey accepts $10,500 from the Alabama Home Builders Association for the plumbing and pipefitting program. (CONTRIBUTED)

Madison County Schools Superintendent Matt Massey accepts $10,500 from the Alabama Home Builders Association for the plumbing and pipefitting program. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON COUNTY – First in the state, Madison County Career Technical Center will offer a plumbing and pipefitting program of study.

School leaders have partnered with several industry professionals and associations to launch this initiative. Their action is in response to an identified shortage of these skilled laborers in the building industry.

“This is the first program like this in the state of Alabama,” David Wilcox said. Wilcox is executive director of the Alabama Plumbers & Pipe/Gas Fitters Examining Board. “The concept of a full partnership with industry and schools I don’t think has ever been done in our industry before.”

Wilcox spoke to the Madison County Board of Education and superintendent on Aug. 25. “I just want to applaud you all for being first. Other school systems are already excited and are watching to see what is happening here,” Wilcox said.

“We’ve been working hard … to enhance our career tech opportunities,” superintendent Matt Massey said. “Most importantly, it gives our students an opportunity to enhance their skills and be trained for a career that could begin as soon as they graduate.”

Career tech director Michael Romine said the new program would help with efforts in community workforce development. “This is a model for how to partner with local industry … and fill an existing gap,” Romine said.

A group of local and state industry partners formed the Home Builders Association of Alabama Foundation to allow companies to donate in support of Madison County’s pilot program. The foundation presented $10,500 to Madison County Schools.

Members of the Industry Council in Madison County contributed to the foundation. Industry council members include Larry Durham, Durham Service Company; Dennis Dean, Dean & Son Plumbing Co. Inc.; Scott Dean, Dean Plumbing Co. Inc.; Mark Stephens; Park Supply Co. Inc.; and Gene Satterfield, All Weather Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.

Alabama Plumbers and Gas/Pipe Fitters Board, working with Ridging Tool Company and Ferguson Plumbing Supply, donated a pipefitting machine valued at approximately $4,000.

Also on The Madison Record
Rocket City Marching Invitational set for Saturday, Sept. 20 at stadium
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
MADISON – Bob Jones High School Bands, in collaboration with title sponsor KODA Technologies, will present the third annual Rocket City Marching Invit...
Mayor Paul Finley bids farewell, reflects on accomplishments at 2025 Madison Update
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - Madison Mayor Paul Finley will be leaving the office of mayor this Nov. after sitting out the Aug. 26 election. Finley addressed the busines...
District 6 seat to be decided Tuesday in runoff election
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - There is one final race to be decided from Madison’s municipal Aug. 26 election. The representative for District 6 on the Madison City Counc...
Heart of the Valley YMCA exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy, renews mission focus
A: Main, Business, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
HUNTSVILLE – On Sept. 8, Heart of the Valley YMCA announced its successful emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This development marks a new chapter ...
MCDAB presents check to Parks and Recreation, chairperson steps down
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
September 17, 2025
MADISON - After serving as the chairperson for the Madison City Disability Advocacy Board (MCDAB) for nine years, Janessa Crosswy is moving and steppi...
State lawmakers, local city leaders meet with Space Command leader to discuss transition
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By ALEX ANGLE Alabama Daily News 
September 17, 2025
WASHINGTON — Space Command is moving quickly to bring the headquarters to Huntsville through meetings with members of the state’s congressional delega...
Best-Selling Author Jen Hatmaker to share memoir on Oct. 21
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 17, 2025
MADISON – Jean Hatmaker, “New York Times” Best-Selling Author, speaker and podcaster, will share thoughts from her memoir, “Awake,” at Blue Apple Book...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *