In an effort to provide education for its employees, as well as create a pool of qualified future candidates, Ramona Municipal Water District is looking into a water management certificate program at California State University, San Marcos, the agency announced Tuesday.
District General Manager David Barnum said other small agencies are also looking into the program to help provide current employees with a "comprehensive education."
Barnum told the water board at Tuesday's meeting that the program may also help the district fill future vacant spots with qualified employees.
"The program will be providing professionals a future in our business," Barnum said of the proposed program. "It allows people new to the water business to break through."
The water management certificate program is still in its "preliminary stages," the general manager said, but the board will be presented with more information in the coming months.
"There is no fiscal impact to the district at this time," Barnum told the board.
The water certificate program will act as a bachelor degree program for those wanting to break into the water business. Barnum said that currently, the local junior colleges offer a similar program, but only at the associate's degree level.
"This will be the next step for those on the bottom third of the work force to move up," Barnum said.
The water board unanimously passed the district staff recommendation to approve the support of the development of the water mangement certificate program at Cal State, San Marcos.
