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Educators Seek Curriculum Ideas From Business Sector

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: May 31, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Educators know the notion that reading, writing and arithmetic are all students need to succeed is as obsolete as a one-room schoolhouse. Skills are needed along with knowledge.

The question is, however, which skills will give today's students the best edge in tomorrow's job market?

Pasco District School officials hope get a bit of an education in that area. The district will hold a Workforce Strategic Planning Town Hall Meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Monday, June 2, at Seven Springs Middle School, 2441 Little Road.

"We are looking to industry leaders for the intellectual capital that is necessary to align district programs with the needs of the business community," said School Board Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey.

Starkey and School Superintendent Heather Fiorentino will be the co-hosts of the working-lunch town hall meeting.

School District officials have been working with the Pasco Economic Development Council, Pasco-Hernando Jobs and Education Partnership and Pasco-Hernando Community College to develop a strategic plan for meeting the work force needs of the community.

Students enrolled in these career academies will follow a curriculum that follows all the standard educational requirements, but also include intensive training in a particular career field.

Students in these programs would earn post-secondary credits and in some cases industry certification while in high school.

District officials hope to create at least one career academy at every high school in the Pasco within the next two years in fields with high local and regional job demands.

The district has already established health career academies at four Pasco secondary schools: Gulf High School, New Port Richey; J.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity; Marchman Technical Education Center, New Port Richey; and Zephyrhills High School.

The health careers academies utilize area health care professionals and organizations on an ongoing basis to provide on-site training opportunities and to serve in an advisory capacity.

The same would be needed in any career field the district operates academies, meaning participation from the business community is vital.

A first level of participation would be to review a draft of the long-term career academy plan created by the district and its partners.

Town Hall participants will be asked to review and make suggested changes to the draft as they help to identify market needs and develop programs of study within high skill-high wage industries for high schools in Pasco County.

"In order for us to maximize the plan's effectiveness, we must have the active participation of the business community," Fiorentino said. "Through a mutually beneficial partnership, we can empower industry leaders to contribute to the development of a skilled labor force, while creating meaningful opportunities for students to attain the skills and credentials they need for future success."

Mary Jane Stanley, president of the Land O' Lakes-based Pasco Economic Development Council, said the success of the career academies program will benefit the growth of the local economy, providing existing businesses with a built-in talent pool of skilled workers. That also will make the area more attractive to businesses considering moving in.

"More and more, the availability of skilled workers tops their lists of concerns," Stanley said. "We believe strongly the development of certified career academies in Pasco County Schools is a great step toward the sustainability of a diversified economy.

"We hope many Pasco businesses will take advantage of this important opportunity to shape the future of our workforce by contributing to the strategic plan."

Those interested in taking part in the town hall meeting should call 727-774-2259.

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