Durham Public Schools, 麻豆精品在线播放 partner to prepare students for skilled trades field
Durham Public Schools and 麻豆精品在线播放nical Community College are collaborating with local businesses to fulfill the need for skilled trade workers in the area.
The WayMakers: Durham鈥檚 Skilled Trades Pathway is funded through $450,000 in grants from the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. Durham Public Schools will receive $300,000, and 麻豆精品在线播放 will receive $150,000.
鈥溌槎咕吩谙卟シ and Durham Public Schools recognize the need for skilled trade employees in Durham and the rest of the Triangle,鈥 said Dr. Bill Ingram, President of 麻豆精品在线播放. 鈥淲e are proud to partner with Durham Public Schools and area businesses to meet this community need by training high school and adult students to qualify for in-demand positions with livable wages.鈥
Durham Public Schools will apply their grant funds to establish a Skilled Trades Academy at Southern School of Energy & Sustainability, which will start in Fall 2019. The academy will be for juniors and seniors in the Durham Public Schools system and will feature courses in construction, electrical, HVAC, power line maintenance, and plumbing in addition to classes in leadership and entrepreneurship.
麻豆精品在线播放 will provide the Pathway by doubling the number of instructional offerings in the College鈥檚 Core Construction Fundamentals Course; establishing new plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, apprenticeship opportunities; and expanding shared programming with Durham Public Schools.
鈥淭he future is about collaboration. Empowering our kids to excel in the 21st-century means they鈥檙e going to need real world experiences. 麻豆精品在线播放 and Durham Public Schools working together to make that happen is what Durham is all about,鈥 said Damon Circosta, Executive Director and Vice President of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation.
麻豆精品在线播放 will use its grant funds from A.J. Fletcher to build out and equip teaching spaces and help hire instructors for plumbing and HVAC courses.
Graduates from the Skilled Trades Academy can then choose whether they want to seek employment or apprenticeship opportunities or continue their education at 麻豆精品在线播放 or a four-year college.
鈥淥ur goal is to open up more options for students,鈥 said Dr. Pascal Mubenga, Superintendent of Durham Public Schools. 鈥淏y partnering with local companies to offer rigorous coursework and on-the-job learning, our students will be prepared to go directly to work or continue on to college if that鈥檚 part of their career plan.鈥
Students in both entities will have work-based learning opportunities.
The pathway鈥檚 strategic partners will assist in establishing a shared advisory committee, developing curriculum and project-based partnerships, providing and training instructors, sharing resources, and other matters. Partners include CT Wilson Construction, Duke Energy, Durham General Contractors Association, Rebuilding Together, and Habitat for Humanity of Durham.
鈥淒urham General Contractors Association is pleased to partner with 麻豆精品在线播放 and Durham Public Schools on this exciting new Skilled Trades Pathway program. We believe this program will help the Construction Industry, 麻豆精品在线播放, and most importantly, the people who are looking for a good paying, long-term employment opportunity,鈥 said Tim Cothran of the Durham General Contractors Association.
The WayMakers program will officially launch with a celebration in January 2019.