The Venice Skills Center - Out of the Woods?
By Suzy
Williams
“It’s
amazing, it’s inexpensive, it’s OURS, and it’s in
trouble.” Thus spake John Humphrey, a graphic design student at the
Venice Skills Center (VSC), the beloved and accredited local vocational school.
Like the Beachhead, it has been around since
1968, serving the community with great teachers, handy subjects, up-to-date
equipment, and low cost for 35 years. Located smack-dab in Venice at 611 5th
Avenue, somehow the word isn’t out enough to fill up all the classes.
It’s under the jurisdiction of L.A. Unified School District, which is
sometimes inclined to yank the funding, should there not be enough enrollment.
Say, are you thinking of
changing careers? Would you like to update your current skills? Do you, or a
friend or relative want to master competencies to increase your job
marketability? Or would you simply like to learn how to E-mail your
granddchildren? Venice Skills Center is the place to beeline to. The number is
392-4153. For a mere $15 to register per class, with the material costs usually
around $20, you can get yourself a whole new career. Get a business education
with the requisite typing and computer skills, or become and electronic
technician, dental assistant, dispensing optician, or get a job in apparel
construction. Or earn that high school diploma or take an
English-as-a-second-language course.
The actual state of the school is in debate. According to an article in the
Santa Monica Mirror that came out this time last year, 1.5 million dollars had
been approved, earmarked for a campus”face-lift” by the LAUSD. But
Robin Hill, a VSC graphic design teacher remembers that same amount being
approved three or four years ago, without much visible change, but, she adds,
there may be “many layers of approval.”
One thing puzzles (and troubles) her
greatly: the perfunctory transfer of the energetic and popular principal Janice
Brittan, replaced by someone rumored to retire next year. This new principal has
an academic, rather than a vocational background, as opposed to the very
qualified Ms. Brittan. Something isn’t quite right, that’s for sure.
Dru Morgan, John Humphrey’s
graphic design coach, had these words about what he felt was unique about VSC:
“Compared to private schools, it’s a lot cheaper and has better
equipment. You’re getting the latest and greatest hardware and software
and professional teachers who work in the industry themselves. People are
learning basic office and computer skills, advanced graphic and web design,
networking, classes that could cost much more at a private school. VSC is an
under-tapped resource.”
What about the
school being in trouble?
“I
don’t think our school is in trouble more than anything else. At different
times, some of the bigger unified schools have had more attention. VSC just
doesn’t get the attention that it needs by the school district,
we’re flying under the radar. But we get to run things our own way more,
too, that way.“
Not that
the place looks like a fairyland. As Humphrey and I biked by funky bungalows
surrounded by chain-link fence, with a couple of giant ficus and a palm or two,
there wasn’t much for the eye to behold. Still, this part of town is heavy
on rustic charm, and inside these little buildings, a whole lotta
learning’s going on. The cool thing is that if there is a demand for
classes in certain subjects, VSC will provide them. Anyone want to take a
landscaping class? You could practice on the campus!
Posted: Mon - September 1, 2003 at 04:14 PM