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Liberty County schools announce $700,000 Hyundai partnership to place 17 seniors in jobs
Summary
The Liberty County School System and Liberty College and Career Academy (LCCA) held a signing ceremony announcing a $700,000 investment from Hyundai to hire 17 graduating seniors into entry-level positions, and LCCA leaders outlined enrollment, dual-enrollment and work-based learning growth.
The Liberty County School System announced a partnership with Hyundai that the district said represents a $700,000 investment to support students entering the workforce immediately after high school.
The announcement came during a signing ceremony at the Liberty County Board of Education meeting. Doctor Valerie Rashad, chief executive officer of Liberty College and Career Academy, said 17 seniors from Bradwell Institute and Liberty County High School will be eligible for employment with Hyundai at a minimum starting salary the district described as $40,000 per year.
The partnership is intended to connect LCCA career pathways with immediate employment opportunities. "The Liberty College and Career Academy mission is to provide all students in our high schools with opportunities to complete career pathways while at the same time pursuing technical certificates of credit and industry credentials that will enable them to obtain meaningful employment at a real wage at the end of their high school experience," Doctor Valerie Rashad said.
Nut graf: District leaders said the Hyundai investment is part of a broader push to grow LCCA program enrollment and work-based learning and to align career pathways with regional employers, with officials noting other partnerships and dual-enrollment agreements.
Rashad told the board that LCCA currently offers pathways—including animation, automotive and health care—and has 936 enrolled students across its offerings. She said first-semester dual-enrollment participation numbered 196 students this past semester, with 205 students participating at Savannah Technical College, Ogeechee Technical College, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and Augusta State University.
Work-based learning also has expanded, Rashad said. "We currently have 131 students participating in our work-based learning program," she said, and cited 93 employers that host students. Rashad added that 20 of those students are employed by the Liberty County School System itself.
Rashad said the district will continue to pursue pathway expansions in transportation, distribution and logistics, manufacturing, and health science (including dental hygienist and pharmaceutical technician programs). She said the district is planning outreach to middle and high schools to boost enrollment and will host a dual-enrollment information night in February.
Superintendent Doctor Perry and board members praised the partnership during the meeting, with board members noting Hyundai's regional hiring plans and the value of placing students directly into jobs.
Ending: Rashad and district leaders said they will return to the board with additional details as work-based placements and pathway expansions proceed and as LCCA continues its recertification and employer outreach efforts.
