BENTONVILLE -- More than 70 northwest Arkansas educators, students and industry representatives gathered Tuesday to discuss how businesses and schools could respond to a shortage of workers in construction trades.
Michael Poore, Bentonville School District's superintendent, hosted the Construction Trades Think Tank at Fulbright Junior High School. Goals of Tuesday's meeting included highlighting some of the ways northwest Arkansas schools are preparing students for careers straight out of high school and creating momentum to do more in that area, Poore said.
Population Rising
About 24 people move into Northwest Arkansas each day, according to Michael Poore, Bentonville schools superintendent.
Source: Staff Report
"We have the authority within ourselves to go do something about this," Poore told the audience.
Poore introduced several guest speakers, including officials and students from the Pea Ridge School District, which last fall opened Pea Ridge Manufacturing and Business Academy, a conversion charter school. Students choose career pathways and learn skills that can lead to jobs right out of high school.
Richard Page, Gravette School District's superintendent, discussed the heating, ventilation and air conditioning program the district recently launched. There are 13 students in the program.
Page noted only 40 percent of students graduating high school go on to a two- or four-year college or university.
"We're trying to address the needs of those who aren't going to college," Page said. "Career-oriented students want to start work upon graduation from high school. That's the awareness we all need to have."
Page said northwest Arkansas must establish a regional effort to give students in all districts -- urban and rural -- access to career and technical education programs.
Those in attendance broke into small groups to discuss things that must be done to promote career and technical education.
Rick Neal, superintendent of Pea Ridge schools, said it's important people realize the career opportunities available to people with the right skills straight out of high school.
"You've got to change the mindset that it's all about college," Neal said.
Neal and his group came up with three things that must be done: Change the cultural perception college is the only next step after high school, continue to investigate the need for career education and encourage businesses and industries to get involved with the schools.
Other groups' suggestions included investigating internship possibilities for students, getting government to address financial and regulatory barriers and identifying a central location for career and technical education.
Kim Davis, who works for the Northwest Arkansas Council and a member of the state Board of Education, closed the meeting with words of encouragement for the audience.
"The idea of taking a regional approach is something that really gets me excited," Davis said.
He said he also was excited about addressing an obvious need in the workforce and changing the lives of young people. He reiterated the importance of partnerships throughout Northwest Arkansas to make things happen.
Brenda Jones, executive officer of Northwest Arkansas Home Builders Association, said there's a shortage of construction labor across the region. Electricians, plumbers and masons are among those in high demand.
"The (association) feels high school is where we need to start encouraging students to go into the construction industry," Jones said.
The association last year established a Future Builders program, with four area high schools participating. The program offers students first-hand exposure to the world of the building industry through association membership, educational programming, and connections to builders.
Jones was encouraged by the turnout at Tuesday's event.
"We're all working toward the same goals," she said.
General News on 03/25/2015