By JAQUETTA WHITE-Staff Reporter

RESERVE – The school year hasn’t started yet, but there’s a lot of learning going on at West St. John High School on Tuesday and Thursday nights. That’s when 16 eager participants in a new training program meet to refine their welding skills.

The students are part of an initiative sponsored by the parish councils, St. John School Board, the WIA board and several local corporations. The goal of the program is to train River Parish residents and then help them to get entry-level welding jobs, said Leroy Mitchell, one of the program’s coordinators. The first of two 12-week programs is now in its eighth week and a second class began Monday.

“We’re going to train as long as funds are available and we have jobs to offer,” said Mitchell.

When students complete the program they will be allowed to compete for positions at companies such as Bollinger Shipyards Inc., which now has 14 entry-level positions available, according to training director Chuck Fontenot.

“When they complete program they will have to pass a tacking test a drug screen and physical,” he said. If the students can successfully do those things, they will be offered jobs.