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On January 27, 1970 a meeting was held involving the Superintendents of four school divisions -- William R. Savage from Suffolk City Schools, Robert A. Wood from Nansemond County Schools, Jackson E. Reasor from Isle of Wight County Schools and Richard L. Vaughan from Franklin City Schools. The purpose of that meeting was to discuss formally, for the first time, the desirability of a joint venture in vocational education. There were those who said it could not be done; and, indeed, it did appear to be a monumental task, that of securing agreement among four separate governing bodies. But, the group of citizens who conceived the Vo-Tech dream was equal to the task and the almost impossible was accomplished.
On September 24, 1970, the Joint Committee for Control of the new regional vocational-technical center held its first meeting at the Nansemond County Instructional Annex in Driver. The board was comprised of two members appointed by each of the participating school boards. Members included Francis Clark and Elvin N. Vaughan of Franklin, Robert 0. Alphin and Alton T. Blowe of Isle of Wight, J. R. Dixon, III and Levin F. Custis of Nansemond, and Charles M. Abernathy and E. A. Friend, Jr. of Suffolk. The new board elected Francis Clark as Chairperson, and, at that first meeting, adopted the agreement that would become the basis for the establishment of the regional vocational education center.
The need for such a center was apparent. The participating divisions were providing little in the form of marketable skills for high school graduates. Fewer than 50% of the graduates from high school were entering college or other post-secondary education programs, and an even smaller number were actually completing those programs and receiving degrees. According to statistics drawn from the Fourth Annual Evaluation Report of the Virginia State Advisory Council on Vocational Education, published in 1974, 57% of the 1,308 children who entered first grade in 1960 in Franklin, Isle of Wight and Suffolk (which by that time included the former Nansemond County) had, by 1972, entered the labor market without marketable skills and without the qualifications for satisfactory and satisfying employment.
The need was apparent; but, the solution was less so. Education for occupational preparation is expensive. To establish the facilities required to offer the variety of programs necessary to allow students sufficient freedom in choosing their life's work may be far beyond the resources of a relatively small, rural school division. Thus the idea of pooling resources was conceived and the Vo-Tech Dream was born. That dream burned bright in the hearts of those determined and dedicated citizens, who saw a jointly owned facility as the solution to a long standing problem.
The Joint Committee, under the able leadership of Francis Clark, set about the task of making that dream a reality. The first hurdle was overcome when, on June 7, 1971, the site committee selected by the Joint Committee reported on an offer by Peter Dewitt Pruden, Sr. to donate property as a site for the center. In November of that same year, the deed for "20 acres of land fronting U. S. Highway # 460 in Chuckatuck Magisterial District of Nansemond County" was delivered to and accepted by the Joint Committee. In a letter to Mr. Pruden, expressing the board's gratitude for this generous donation, Mr. Clark said, "...with this fine gift of a beautiful site located almost in the geographical and population center of the area to be served, we are well on our way to the establishment of a regional vocational-technical school." On June 13, 1972, the Joint Committee adopted a name for the new school, calling it P. D. Pruden Vocational-Technical Center in honor of his gift of property.
The architectural firm of Oliver, Smith and Cooke was selected in August 1972 and two months later preliminary drawings were presented and approved. At 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 17, 1974, Mr. Clark directed the architects to accept the bid of Marquis, Inc. for the construction of the school. In a memorandum to the other members of the Joint Committee, he expressed his elation at this momentous act, but added, "bricks and mortar, however, do not make a school and we must now turn our attention to the most important phase of our work. Our success will not be measured by the funds we obtained or the building we will erect, but rather by the quality of the training and learning experience we provide. The taxpayers are funding a top-rate school. Only our continued and concentrated efforts for the best curriculum, staff and policies will assure they get that school." At a ceremony held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 1974, the ground was broken and construction was begun. The Joint Committee, though still very much involved in the construction work itself, turned its attention to other aspects of what their chairperson termed "the most important educational adventure in this area in recent years."
The Joint Committee appointed William J. Saunders to serve as the Center's first principal. In the spring of 1975, the instructional staff was selected. On July 1, 1975, the staff assembled for the first time in the new building and began a busy summer of preparation.
On the morning of September 2, 1975, the big yellow buses pulled up to the front door and the students poured in. The Vo-Tech dream had become a reality.
Many changes have occurred since that day. In 1984, Franklin City Schools announced their decision to withdraw from participation in the Center due to the travel distance for students, leaving ownership of the regional facility with Isle of Wight County and Suffolk City. In 1985, WPDP (later changed to WSPS) first aired on Cable 6 in Suffolk as the educational access channel for Suffolk City Schools. The decision to house the television studio at P. D. Pruden enabled it to serve double duty as both a production and transmission site and as a classroom for the newly established program in Television Production. In 1987, a federal grant provided for the establishment of a vocational assessment program to assist special needs students in making appropriate vocational choices. In 1991, The P. D. Pruden Vocational-Technical Center Foundation, Inc. was established for the purpose of providing construction projects for the Center's carpentry students. In 1992, the Center for Lifelong Learning was created as a regional adult education program serving Suffolk City Schools and Isle of Wight County Schools with P. D. Pruden as its administrative hub.
On March 19, 1996, the Joint Committee for Control adopted a new mission statement. Although the new statement did not dramatically change the purpose of the Center's existence, it did represent a renewed commitment on the part of the board to the purposes for which the Center was established and a need to redefine those purposes in light of a changing world. The challenge to the staff was the development of a long range plan that would ensure continuous growth and improvement that would be consistent with the stated mission.
In October, 1996, a Strategic Planning Task Force was formed, made up of representatives of local industry and education. With the Center's mission constantly in front of them, the Task Force met every two weeks for a period of five months. The meetings consisted of extensive research, heated discussions, brainstorming sessions and lots of wads of crumpled paper. Finally, in March, 1997, the completed Strategic Plan was presented to the Joint Committee.
In the first phase of the implementation of the Strategic Plan, the Center's name was changed. P. D. Pruden Vocational-Technical Center became The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology. The new name represented the Center's commitment to fulfill the task force recommendations regarding a stronger link with private industry and a leadership role in preparing students for careers in highly technical fields. New programs were established in computer network administration, PC technology and emergency medical technology. A new effective teaching model was adopted and Center staff began working toward the goal of strengthening students' academic achievement in addition to their vocational skills. A technology plan was developed to improve the availability of emerging instructional technology in every classroom. A new logo and tagline were developed.
In October, 1997, The Center's director was approached by the Hampton Roads Utility Heavy Contractor's Association (H.R.U.H.C.A.) regarding the possibility of entering into a partnership for the training of heavy equipment operators for local industry. The result was a partnership that has served as a model for industry/education collaboration and a new program in Utility/Heavy Construction Technology that is the first of it's kind in the state and perhaps the nation.
One thing that has not changed, however, is the commitment of the Center and its staff to the purposes for which it was created. Since 1975, the need to provide marketable skills for secondary students in the Center's service area has been addressed in a very real way. Over 3,500 secondary students have completed programs and received certificates from the Center. Many of those who would otherwise have entered the job market without marketable skills are now gainfully employed, productive citizens within the community. In addition, the Center has provided a full range of adult evening classes for out of school adults. Currently, the Center for Lifelong Learning is providing workplace literacy programs in several companies in both Suffolk and Isle of Wight, satellite classes in adult basic education in communities throughout the service area, G.E.D. preparation classes, G.E.D. testing services, and apprenticeship related instruction classes for State approved apprentices in addition to the broad range of vocational and avocational offerings that have always been available.
The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology has earned respect, not only within the communities it serves, but across the state and from other states as well. The Center was a recognized leader in the implementation of competency based vocational education, serving as a model for other schools in the state. In 1981, the Center was a nominee for the Secretary's Award for Outstanding Vocational Programs, one of three programs in a ten state region to receive that honor. Year after year, the Center's students have distinguished themselves and the Center by their participation in skill competitions at the local, district, state and national levels, bringing back numerous awards, trophies and medals at every level.
As we enter a new millennium, we might examine some of the ways in which our goals and purposes have changed over the years to meet the needs of a changing society. We are developing instructional programs that are more highly technical in nature, preparing students for a job market in which some 85% of the jobs available will require education beyond high school. We are working with post-secondary institutions to provide a curriculum that will carry students from high school to college and beyond to fulfill whatever goals they have established for themselves. We have developed a strong relationship with private industry, allowing us to provide realistic workplace experiences for students to extend the value of their classroom and laboratory instruction.
The Vo-Tech dream lives on! As we celebrate this thirtieth anniversary year, we are confident that the solid foundation of community support, dedication and love upon which this Center is built will remain firm and that we will continue to provide a bridge between school and work for the youth of Suffolk and Isle of Wight for many years to come.
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