Carson City Schools plan to discontinue auto collision repair course

The Carson City School District is discussing not offering the Auto Collision Repair Technology class at Carson High School.

The district hasn’t officially canceled the collision repair class, but it’s slated to end after this school year, said Superintendent Richard Stokes.

Several concerned students, teachers and community members voiced their disdain at the school board meeting last week.

“These are the students who will fix your vehicle and get you on your way,” said Lance Godec, CHS auto collision teacher. “You need to take into consideration the needs of the community and students to keep a program that is so unique.”

The class has nearly 140 students in it currently, which Godec said is nearly 4 percent of the CHS student population. He said the class has been offered at Carson High for more than 15 years. If students complete at least three years of the auto collision class, they can get college credit and the school teaches the state standard for auto repair. Carson High is one of the few secondary schools in Nevada to teach collision repair classes.

One local auto body shop owner, Eric Basa, of Affordable Auto Painting, said having this class is important because there are so few technicians.

The school district is planning on replacing the auto class with a manufacturing course.

“We have a vibrant manufacturing group in Carson City and we know there are large corporations, like Tesla, who are opening their doors for business and based on what we are seeing with the NNDA, the governor’s office and what’s happening in the region, we believe that other related industries are requiring students to have an understanding of what is going on,” Stokes said. “Having the right skill set for those jobs would be advantageous for students.”

Carson High students interested in pursuing classes for the auto industry still may be able to take the time to attend the auto collision classes at Western Nevada College. Stokes said the district will work with students to try to work it into their schedules if possible.

“We are hoping to work with the college and students to see what fits their needs most,” Stokes said.

The manufacturing classes will start with a first level course and progress as the years continue, Stokes said.