During their one-on-one exchange during a candidate forum last Wednesday, state Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio and his Democrat challenger, William Ihlenfeld, disagreed on a multitude of issues.
On one thing they were in solid, unqualified agreement, however: State officials need to take a fresh look at community and technical college education in West Virginia.
Appropriately enough, the forum was held at West Virginia Northern Community College’s campus in Wheeling. There, WVNCC offers a wide spectrum of two-year degree and certificate programs that can lead graduates into good-paying careers.
For those striving for four-year degrees, WVNCC provides opportunities to complete two years of the work at lower cost than by going away to school.
Similar institutions are at work throughout the state.