FORT SCOTT -- Fort Scott Community College President Clayton Tatro plans to speak to the USD 235 Board of Education on Monday about a construction trades program that FSCC plans to start up this fall.

Tatro, who is helping to promote FSCC during National Community College Month, visited with the Bourbon County Commission on Friday and plans to speak to the USD 234 Board of Education on Monday, as well.

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Tatro said he is visiting several area school and government officials this month to inform them about beneficial programs and services that FSCC provides to the community, and how FSCC compares as an institution with other community colleges across Kansas.

He will address the U-235 board members during their regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the UJSHS commons area, 601 Fifth St., Uniontown.

Tatro said he plans to talk to the U-235 board about a $2 million grant that FSCC received last month from the U.S. Department of Labor to start a construction trades program at the college this fall.

"I'm going to talk about what the Community-Based Job Training Grant means for Uniontown High School and the Uniontown community," Tatro said. "I'm going to give a three-minute overview of this $2 million project."

FSCC will use the grant money this fall to implement a construction trades program, which prepares and trains students for careers in the high-growth construction industry. The construction industry is among the top high-demand and high-growth industries in the United States, and there is currently a large demand for highly skilled construction workers, particularly in Kansas, an FSCC statement said.

There is also currently no training path for the construction industry in Southeast Kansas, and the FSCC program will create an opportunity for the recruitment, education, training, professional development, and job placement of prospective construction workers in the region.

The program also aims to address a regional educational and training system that is not keeping pace with the industry needs, the statement said.

Last month, FSCC was one of 69 institutions in 36 states that received money under the President's Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative, a plan that was introduced by President Bush in 2004. Much of the FSCC funds have already been set aside to purchase equipment and supplies, and also to hire office staff, instructors, and a program director this fall, Tatro said.

FSCC will partner with eight area high schools, including Fort Scott, Girard, Uniontown, Paola, Louis-burg, Pittsburg, Osawatomie and Frontenac; and other institutions and businesses including Pittsburg State University, Crossland Construction in Columbus, Eby Construction, Associated General Contractors of America, and the Area V Workforce Investment Board, to offer the construction trades program.

Upon completion of the two-year, 63-credit hour associates degree program, students will then have a chance to work in the construction industry in the Southeast Kansas region.

High school students will be able to enroll in the program as juniors and seniors. After completing the degree program at FSCC, students will be able to transfer to PSU where they will have the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree and learn added skills if they choose to do so.

Tatro said he also plans to talk to the board about how FSCC compares with other community colleges in Southeast Kansas and across the state, and the "value or return on the investment that is there at FSCC for the Bourbon County taxpayer."

The board also plans to conduct the following business on Monday:

* Consider approval of the district's membership with the Kansas Association of School Boards for the 2008-09 school year. If approved, the district will pay $5,258 in membership fees to KASB this year.

* The board also will consider approval of the district's membership in the KASB Legal Assistance Fund for the 2008-'09 school year. Membership fees for that fund, if approved, will cost the district $1,100 this year.

* Consider approving the $312 purchase of a subscription to the American School Board Journal for all board members and USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold for the 2008-09 school year.

* Consider approval of school handbooks for West Bourbon Elementary School and Uniontown Junior Senior High School for the 2008-09 school year. The board also is expected to hear administrative reports from Rockhold, WBE Principal Marianna Daugherty, and UJSHS Principal Tracy Smith; and a report on updates in the district's athletic policy from Smith.

The board has also scheduled an executive session to discuss personnel matters.