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Five-district Perkins consortium highlights greenhouse, health-expo and CNA/MA labs
Summary
A representative of the Perkins consortium described regional career-and-technical education initiatives including a student-built greenhouse to be showcased at a home show, a large health expo with 100 industry partners, and embedded CNA and MA labs that connect students with local employers.
Tom Herman, speaking for the Perkins consortium that includes Greenfield, Greendale, Franklin, Whitnall and Saint Francis, told the Greendale School District board the districts’ joint vocational programming provides opportunities that individual districts could not support alone.
Herman described a student-built greenhouse project by construction students that will be shown at the county home show in mid-February and then given to the district horticulture program. He said industry partners work alongside students on projects and that consortium coordination frees teachers to teach rather than spend time securing speakers and field trips.
Herman highlighted a forthcoming health expo that will involve about 100 industry experts from hospital systems, local colleges and businesses, which the consortium expects will expand students’ exposure to health careers. He gave an example of a perfusionist — the specialist who manages heart-lung bypass equipment — noting it requires a two-year postsecondary credential and cited a statewide average salary figure mentioned in his remarks.
Herman also reported success in direct employer connections: the CNA (certified nursing assistant) lab supports student placements and employer interviews, and an MA (medical assistant) lab recently launched that had 55 applicants and a final cohort with multiple district students who advanced to interviews and job offers.
Board members praised the labor-market connections and asked about students’ experiences; a board member thanked Herman for his work and noted the consortium’s role in expanding career options for students.
No formal board action was required; Herman’s presentation was informational.
