Masonry Magazine August 2014 Page. 36
MAS5308_August2014_MAS 7/22/14 10:16 AM Page 34
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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
"A lot of schools have some type of construction class or another, but thefve taken a beating and had their bud�gets cut;' Buczkiewicz says, adding that high schools have traditionally focused more on preparing college-ready stu�dents more than workforce-ready students.
Optimally, the program will target high school juniors and seniors, with the first year concentration on core cur�riculum and the second year on volume one of the NCCER curriculum. Once a student completes the two-year pro�gram, he qualifies to be accepted into an NCCER appren�tice program anywhere in the country as a second year apprentice, rather than just a first year apprentice. This gives him the advantage to quickly move into a career fol�lowing high school graduation.
"It willestablish an opportunity to work with local contrac�tors and state chapters to provide feeder groups:' Buczkiewicz says, noting that work experience hours normally earned as a first year apprentice can be made up, while the second year apprentice simultaneously earns a living. "That should appeal to high schools and to school counselors; that should be very attractive to them:'
Getting the ball rolling
THE MCAA WILL SPONSOR a minimum of 15 programs in four Tennessee school districts beginning this fall, says Terry
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Ruppel, MCAA'.s director of training and workforce develop�ment for the Tennessee programs. Participating school districts include the counties of Shelby (Memphis), Marion, Maury and Franklin.
The MCAA's sponsorship requires that it support all construction trade programs available at each school, not just masonry, though the initiative is designed to expand and strengthen the masonry training programs being offered. The project includes overseeing individual certifi�cation for teachers and project certification for construc�tion programs, as well as state certification in those trades, Ruppel says.
"There are about 200 (high school construction trade) teachers in the state ofTennessee and about 300 programs being offered at the high school level:' he says. "We'll reach out to all ofthem. He adds that, although some initial roll�out in Tennessee occurred in the spring, 2014-15 will be the first full school year for the sponsored training pro�grams.
The program has a post-secondary aspect as well, and individuals have the option to continue their education after high school by completing volumes nvo and three of the NCCER curriculum at a community college offering the training program or at any other NCCER sponsored training program, says Buczkiewicz.
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34 MASONRY � August 2014 � www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry