Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501260010
SECTION: ECONOMY PAGE: NRV-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Teachers and administrators at Montgomery County Public Schools are working with area businesses to assure all students will be properly trained to enter the world of work upon graduation.
In a new program called the "Workforce Endorsement Agreement," the school system is giving employers a guarantee that every student who graduates from a Montgomery County public school will have the skills necessary to be a valuable employee. To help businesses evaluate prospective employees, companies that participate in the program will be given students' transcripts, which include attendance, grades and extracurricular activities.
"We have 120 businesses that have signed on with us," said instructional supervisor Richard Ballengee. "We have not done a survey yet to see what businesses are looking for, but what I'm being told by the businesses I've met with so far is they're looking for people with communication skills, people who can accept responsibility, people who can work as team players and can be dependable. So many business people have told us, 'We don't care how smart they are, we want people who will show up for work.'"
The benefits of such a program are twofold, Ballengee said. "It keeps the kids in the community and it provides a work force for the employers. We think it also will reduce the dropout rate."
Ballengee said that by the year 2000, 80 percent of all jobs will require technical knowledge. To prepare for such demands, he hopes to increase the number of technical courses required on the high school level.
"We haven't gotten that far yet," Ballengee said, "but we're working on it."
Giles County's Partnership for Excellence Foundation, Inc. has successfully matched businesses and high school students for the past three years, in an effort to keep the county's young people in the area.
"I guess you could say we're Giles Countians promoting Giles Countians," said Howard Spencer, foundation director.
Spencer said high school students who have interests in a particular field can match up with local business people to gain valuable, on-site training for future careers.
One high school student, for instance, wants to become a lawyer, and is hoping to pair up with the circuit court clerk.
Another student, who wants to major in psychology, may be paired up with the mental health services office in Christiansburg.
"We want the community to see exactly what these kids can do for the community," Spencer said.
Angela Lytton, a student at Giles High School, and Melissa Fields, a student at Narrows High School, have spent the past year working at the Giles County Chamber of Commerce.
It has been a learning experience, Lytton said.
"It's a lot of responsibility but through the people you meet, it really pays off," she said.
School systems in Floyd and Pulaski counties and Radford also have programs for high school students hoping to learn more about the local economy.
"The community has been very receptive to the programs we offer," said Calvin Rorrer of the Floyd County High Vocational School.
Businesses and industries in the area will take on students as part-time workers and the students receive class credit in return.
"Even the county administrator has hired one of our students," Rorrer added.
by CNB