Mount Markham Central School seniors can choose to do their last year of learning off campus.
Specifically, students who meet the qualifications can enroll in the new Work Based Learning Program. Instead of attending school full-time, they spend a required number of hours working at a paid or unpaid job in the community.
Teacher Hannah Raymond, the WBL coordinator, spoke to the Mount Markham Board of Education at last week’s meeting. Raymond also teaches in the Ag and Tech Department.
Raymond said 10 students are participating this semester. “The goal is to go right into the workforce after graduation,’’ she said.
Allowing students to learn on the job increases their motivation to stay in school, she said. Students learn a number of workforce skills, such as communication, being punctual and networking.
“What they learn on the job makes education more relevant,’’ she said.
Students have to qualify by having a minimum grade point average of 80 percent.
They also have to do the legwork in finding an employer willing to participate.
Employers provide reports to Raymond stating the student is meeting the hourly obligations. All parties sign a learning agreement.
Raymond outlined the 16 career clusters, which include manufacturing, finance and agriculture.
Students must work a total of 10 hours in seven days to meet 100 hours in the semester.
On Wednesdays students in the program stay after school with Raymond and work on skills such as writing resumes, how to fill out a job application, and getting interviewed for a job.
Students also keep journals, have assignments and do two projects.
They get classroom credit and either a paycheck or internship credit.
Some of the work sites this year are Burlington Coat Factory, Tony’s Pizza, a dairy farm and for a welding company.
Mt. Markham Superintendent Joe D’Apice said the new program is already gaining attention. “It’s paving the way for other districts,’’ he said.
“Other schools are interested, reaching out to us to design their own.’’
High School Principal Victor Zampetti thanked Raymond for the work she put in, saying it was a valuable addition to student education.
The meeting, which lasted an hour, including approval of nine people to the substitute list.
Board members approved disposing or selling surplus items, including 70 kindergarten-sized chairs, four cooking ranges and a clothes washer.
Permission was given to the West Winfield Senior Citizens Group to use a District bus for a trip Oct. 26.
D’Apice reminded Board members of their retreat Oct. 29.
He, Business Official Lou D’Ambro and Board members discussed the new options for paying school taxes. ...
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