EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Meeting Minutes
November 19, 2007
10:00 a.m., ACM
The
Education Committee of the Comprehensive Plan met on November 19, 2007. Those
in attendance included: Jeff Silka, SCEDC; Dennis Afton, ACM; Georgia Yeager,
SCTC; Vanessa Gardner, SCTC; Deb Balog, JARI; Chris Kimmel, CareerLink; Rae Ann
Weaver, Leadership Class `08; Hubert Donahue, Shade School District; Brad
Zearfoss, Planning Commission; Kerri Burtner, Comprehensive Plan Coordinator.
1. Education Summit – The committee was reminded that we
are hosting an Education Summit on Dec. 6th at 5:30 at SCTC for all
school superintendants, principals, guidance counselors, school board
presidents and PSEA representatives. Discussion ensued about room layout and
details for the food, which will be provided by SCTC’s food service students.
Rae Ann Weaver volunteered to work at the registration table beginning at 4:45.
Committee members suggested some invitees will begin arriving at 5pm. Speakers
for this event include Pam Tokar-Ickes, Ed Legge of the PA Center for Workforce
Information and Analysis, Jay Cannon of the PA Department of Education, Ron
Aldom and Jeff Silka.
2. 3rd Annual Somerset County Job Fair –
Chris Kimmel reported that the job fair attracted 320 job seekers and 45
employers. He said CareerLink has decided it will do preparation sessions in
advance of the 2008 Fair (similar to the “Prep Rally” that Cambria County does
prior to their event). Some session topics will include how to prepare a resume
and how to dress, in addition to others.
3. Geneva College Master’s Degree Program – Dennis Afton
announced that Geneva College will offer a Master’s of Scinece in
Organizational Leadership beginning in January 2008 at ACM Somerset Campus.
Pamphlets were passed out. For more information you can visit www.geneva.edu/page/msol.
4. Career Development Program Presentation – Chris
Kimmel reported that he recently presented a program on Career Development to
students in each of grades 10, 11, and 12 at Shade High School and will soon do
so at Shanksville. Georgia Yeager suggested an emphasis on getting the word to
teachers on workforce development.
5. Regional Consortia Update – Deb Balog reported on
several regional consortias that have been meeting and working through the WIB
Board.
a.
The
Transportation Consortia has completed their assesment and as a result of their
findings are working with Sen. Wozniak’s office to draft legislation to help
with the insurance costs for trucking companies who hire new CDL drivers with
no experience. Typically only self-insured companies can afford to hire drivers
with no experience. Those companies who have an outside insurer cannot usually
afford the premium on an unexperienced driver.
b.
The Healthcare
Consortia will be using a portion of a $125,000 grant to train healthcare
workers in Somerset County in the first quarter of 2008.
c.
The
Manufacturing Consortia has completed their assesment and have learned that
machining in the #1 need; welding did not even make it on the list. That came a
surprise to many involved. Well-trained and qualified maintenance personnel was
identified as the #2 need.
d.
Statewide
Renewable Energy Consortia is meeting quarterly with Somerset County in the
lead since we’ve had a group meeting on this topic. The goal of this group is
to bring a renewable energy company into PA. Georgia asked about any
opportunities to get her students involved in ethanol or cellulosic fuels.
6. Jeff Silka reported that he recently attended a
fabricated metals convention on Chicago and that one booth was the state of
Wyoming recruiting workers to move to their state. They were not there to
recruit businesses to locate to WY. It was pointed out that wages in this area
is the issue in attracting a trained workforce. Tourism (ie hunting, fishing,
outdoors) cannot be used to attract a workforce.
The next meeting of the Education
Committee will be held on January 14, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at ACM – Somerset.