School District of New Berlin Awarded $100K for Innovative School - to - Work Programs

April 29, 2015
New Berlin, Wis. – The School District of New Berlin (SDNB) will receive $96,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Fast Forward Grant program in 2015, earning the most out of all school district applicants this year.
Grants will enable the District to expand programs in healthcare, information technology and manufacturing.
 
“We are extremely grateful to the Department of Workforce Development’s support as we expand programming that enables our students to explore different career paths in high school,” said SDNB Superintendent Joe Garza. “We can’t do this work alone – we need the support of local, regional and state-wide businesses, agencies and educational institutions to give our students the experiences they need as they prepare their academic and career plans. Together we can support each other’s efforts, share ideas and provide innovative solutions to develop talent in the State of Wisconsin.”
 
The District is receiving the following grants:
 
  • Certified Nursing Assistant Program: DWD will award SDNB a grant of $46,445 to train 30 high school students for entry-level positions as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA).  Students have the option to secure a paid position in their primary area of interest as they complete high school and transition into post-secondary education/training programs.  Grant partners include Waukesha County Technical College, LindenGrove – New Berlin, Regency Senior Center – New Berlin, Capri Senior Communities, Muskego Health Care Center, Rogers Memorial Hospital, Aurora Health Care, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – Elmbrook Memorial and the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
  • Information Technology Help Desk Program: DWD will award SDNB grant of $36,600 for its TECH KNOW Academy (IT Help Desk) project to train 20 high school students for entry-level positions in IT Support.  Grant partners include Waukesha County Technical College and Swick Technologies.  Participants have the opportunity to earn industry certifications in CompTIA - A+, CompTIA - Net+, Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), and Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), and will be provided paid placement opportunities in the School District of New Berlin technology department and at partner businesses.
  • Manufacturing Foundations Program: DWD will award SDNB a grant of $14,675 to provide students with an interest in manufacturing a comprehensive background on the industry to help them identify their areas of interest.  Participants will also earn a MSSC-Safety certification which is a requirement for a variety of entry-level positions.This background benefits students interested in both production processing (CNC, Welding, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, etc.) as well as engineering design (Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.).  Grant partners include Waukesha County Technical College, Dillett Mechanical, A.S. Pindel, Sharpe Products, Stanek Tool, and Dynatect.
 
“We are inspired by the number of area businesses that have stepped forward to providing mentoring and support to the students participating in these programs,” said Laura Schmidt, Interim Director of College & Career Readiness in the School District of New Berlin. Schmidt said the Moving New Berlin Forward Alliance and Waukesha County Business Alliance are also listed as partners on these projects to assist with employer engagement. “We will need their continued support to expand our efforts locally and regionally,” she explained.
 
Programs Support Students’ Academic & Career Plans
The School District of New Berlin has been focusing heavily on the implementation of Academic & Career Planning, a process that students in grades 6-12 use to develop goals and plans for their future. The process helps ensure students will gain the knowledge, skills and dispositions they need for success in college, careers and life.
 
Superintendent Garza said programs like the CNA program, IT Help Desk and Manufacturing Foundations serve two types of students: those who know what they want to do after high school, and those who don’t know.
 
“For those who know what career path they want, these programs allow them to earn stackable credentials that will help them further their education and enter the workforce at a time that is right for them. For those who are unsure, these programs help them explore, and teach them what they like and don’t like to do. It’s better for students to explore in high school versus incurring debt while exploring at a post-secondary institution. Our goal is to continue to offer students exposure and experiences that help them plan for their future,” Garza said.
 
Click here for the full DWD press release on Fast Forward Grants.
 
Contact:
Laura Schmidt, Interim Director, College & Career Readiness
laura.schmidt@nbexcellence.org, (262) 789-6200