Board approves apprenticeship MOU with Clarksburg Water Board to expand water-operator training

HARRISON COUNTY — The Harrison County Schools Board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Clarksburg Water Board to continue a youth apprenticeship program that board speakers and presenters described as preparing students for water-plant operator roles.

Presenters for the Clarksburg Water Board thanked the district for the program and described the apprenticeship as a critical pipeline. One speaker identified himself as the treatment-side operator for the Clarksburg Water Board and credited the apprenticeship with accelerating trainees’ progress: “It takes two years to at least be a class 2 after you've passed the test. If we wouldn't have this apprenticeship program and we hired Trenton, we'd be just starting,” he said. Apprentice Trenton Mosher said the experience accelerated his learning and that he expects to be a class 2 operator in roughly two months.

Bobby Guzzani, who identified himself as director of distribution, told the board the program teaches hands-on skills — mapping, CAD, leak detection and heavy equipment operations — and framed the partnership as a way to keep trained talent in Harrison County. “Our program offers hands-on training skills that are always in demand,” he said.

Board members moved and seconded the MOU and approved it without recorded opposition. The board also noted an upcoming agenda item to approve a related MOU and a pending MOU that staff will present later in the meeting.

Why it matters: The presenters said West Virginia lacks enough trained water-system operators and that a local apprenticeship helps fill that gap while offering career-track options for students who do not pursue four-year college pathways.

Follow-up: Board members said an MOU will be placed on the agenda and discussed further with operations staff and that the district will continue collaborating on the apprenticeship rollout.