Taunton Area School-to-Career (TASC) reported expanded pre-employment services and ongoing internship placements to the Taunton Public Schools Finance and Law Subcommittee, and the committee voted to receive the program memo and place it on file.

The memo outlines increases in pre-employment transition referrals, ongoing after-school mentoring at Taunton High School and Taunton Alternative High School, year-round paid internships, and upcoming events including a kickoff breakfast scheduled for Feb. 6 and a youth empowerment conference on March 18 at Bristol Community College focused on financial literacy and career preparedness.

TASC told the committee that pre-employment transition services at Taunton High School grew from two new referrals in an earlier month to 67 referrals in December. The memo also reports that TASC has placed more than 60 students in paid internships in FY25 year-to-date. The after-school mentoring program concluded its first cohort; the memo text presented to the committee listed the cohort as serving "200 and 70" students. Committee members asked staff to provide a clearer placement list before the next reported update so the committee can track where students are working and whether transportation is a barrier.

Committee members and staff also discussed a vacant connecting activity specialist position TASC is recruiting to support employer outreach and student placements. TASC representatives said the position is intended to strengthen employer partnerships and increase student placement capacity.

A motion by Member Viera to receive the TASC memo and place it on file was approved by voice vote ("Aye"). The committee did not adopt additional policy or funding changes at this meeting; the memo was placed on file for informational purposes and future follow-up.

Looking ahead, staff said they would provide the committee with an updated list of internship host organizations and locations before the committee's April 2 meeting so members can review employer partners and any transportation concerns affecting student participation.