THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080484
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
High school graduates from Hampton and Norfolk could land $50,000-a-year jobs right out of school and supply local auto dealers with a trained work force thanks to a novel school-to-work partnership.
Officials from General Motors Corp. and the two school districts announced the partnership Thursday at a ceremony at the New Horizons Regional Education Center in Hampton.
The pilot program, the second of its kind in Virginia and among a handful nationwide, will pair automotive technology students in Hampton and Norfolk with mentors at one of the region's 23 GM auto dealerships.
They would be trained to operate the increasingly sophisticated electronic and computer equipment involved in auto repair and other service jobs.
Once the program is under way, probably next fall, children as young as kindergarten will be taken on field trips to GM dealerships to begin planting the seeds of a possible career in the auto industry.
``Corporate America spends millions on retraining, and if we can do it in the schools we can save millions,'' said Thomas O. Perry, director of the Hampton Roads GM Dealers Training Center in Portsmouth, which local GM dealers opened last May.
At Thursday's ceremony, Perry signed an agreement with Norfolk schools Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. and Hampton schools Superintendent Billy Cannaday Jr.
Nichols called the partnership a ``fantastic opportunity'' for students.
Cannaday said the effort is both ``an investment in young people's future'' and a ``commitment to the now.''
School officials, local politicians and business leaders hailed the partnership as an economic development coup that also strengthens ties between the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads.
``People go to work across districts so we need to have enough qualified people for the region,'' added William Davis Jr., principal of the Norfolk Technical Vocational Center.
The program is part of the national school-to-work movement in which businesses work closely with schools to equip students with the skills needed to enter highly technical jobs right out of high school.
Local graduates hired by GM can attend college for two years to earn an associate's degree in automotive technology or immediately begin work with salaries ranging from $30,000 to $60,000.
``That's not a bad chunk of change for somebody coming out of school,'' Perry said.
But students who enroll in the program won't be guaranteed jobs; they'll have to work hard for them. Slouches, Perry said, need not apply. And they'll have to be well-grounded in math and science.
Successful candidates should have no problem finding a job, Perry said. Because they'll learn industrywide standards, their skills would easily transfer to Ford and Chrysler dealerships. Nationwide, the auto industry faces a shortage of up to 60,000 auto technicians.
In Norfolk, about 60 students are enrolled in the automotive technician program at the technical/vocational center. School Board members Robert Williams and James Herndon said the new program dovetails with efforts to beef up academic standards and technical training.
It fits nicely with Norfolk's ``tech prep'' program, which combines academics and technology, Herndon said.
``Young people have the perception that a blue collar career is not desirable but a college degree is,'' Herndon said. ``The work situation is telling us that that's not the case. We've got college-graduated children not able to find jobs in their profession.''
GM chose Hampton and Norfolk schools because of the districts' reputable automotive technician programs, Perry said.
``We get a congratulations and a pat on the back, too, so that's kind of nice,'' Nichols said.
Davis said GM officials are working with the school districts to certify teachers and enhance instructional programs to meet auto industry standards.
Students welcomed the chance for top-notch training and salaries.
``I think this is an excellent opportunity,'' said Robert Cake, a senior at Norfolk Technical Vocation Center. ``I'd be proud to work for GM, and I look forward to working as a top mechanic in future years.'' ILLUSTRATION: JIM WALKER/
The Virginian-Pilot
Officials tour an auto shop at the New Horizons Regional Education
Center in Hampton after the announcement Thursday of a training
program set up by the General Motors Corp. and the Norfolk and
Hampton school districts.
Color photos
Thomas O. Perry, director of the Hampton Roads GM dealers Training
Center in Portsmouth.
Bill Cannaday Jr, Hampton Schools Superintendent.
Roy D. Nichols Jr., Norfolk Schools Superintendent.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL MOTORS NORFOLK SCHOOLS HAMPTON SCHOOLS AUTOMOBILE
MECHANIC by CNB