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Clarkston residents and business representatives told Walla Walla Community College leaders they need to maintain in-person job training. N-W-P-B’s Rachel Sun reports on a public meeting to talk about the college. (0:13)

That meeting was one of three sessions that invited the public to share their perspectives on the area’s workforce needs and Walla Walla Community College’s role in Clarkston.

Currently, W-W-C-C is on track to close its Clarkston campus if it doesn’t get some extra support from community partners. 

College leaders say classes would still be available online. But Chris Clarkson, a representative for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, says the skills he hires for can’t be taught online.

CLARKSON: “I can’t picture in my mind how I’d even wanna hire that student where it’s all theory and no hands-on.”

The school’s potential closure is due to a revenue loss from a change in Washington state’s community college funding model.

Another round of community conversations are planned for mid-July. 

In Clarkston, I’m Rachel Sun.