Circa 1969, A project was proposed that would change the Mid-Ohio Valley forever. The Pleasants-Ritchie-Tyler Vocational Center, a 1.5 million dollar school for the purpose of training high school students and adults in workplace specific skills. It took almost five years of debating, revising, and funding, and then in August 1974 the PRT opened its doors to its students for the first time.
It was proposed simply at first. An “Opportunity for students to realize their full occupational potential.” They sent surveys home from all four high schools, for both parents and students, to determine if a vocational school was even wanted or needed- and as we can see now, the results were outstanding. Health services, automotive, business and office work, construction fields, and agriculture. The proposal was given, and soon the school was approved! A groundbreaking was held October 25th, 1973. Even the WV Secretary of State Edgar F. Heiskell came down to speak at the occasion.
“Learn by doing,” the description the local papers gave the mission of the school, is still extremely applicable today. The PRT was shifted into what it’s called today in the spring of 2006: The Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute, or more affectionately the MOVTI. Some programs were added and some were dismissed, but the essence and heart of the school has stayed the same. The need for technical education has grown over the years, training students to meet growing and changing industry demands and putting a focus on acquiring skills. The MOVTI has been a center for development and high quality job training for decades now, and we’re only going up.
Written by Tyler Consolidated High School senior, Annie Roberts (Multimedia Publishing)