Victor Central School District updated the board Thursday on the first full year of its work‑based learning program, citing growing employer partnerships, student internships on‑ and off‑campus and plans to expand offerings across 14 career clusters.

The program "actively engage[s] our students in areas of interest to give them those real world experiences," said Sue Watts, identified in the presentation as the district’s work‑based learning coordinator. Brian Siesto, identified as the high‑school principal, explained how the district’s work‑based learning aligns with recent recommendations from the New York State Board of Regents’ blue ribbon commission on graduation requirements.

The presentation described three participation tiers: work‑study for students balancing jobs and coursework; career exploration (single or short‑term experiences such as field trips and guest speakers); and internships for students seeking sustained exposure to a field. Students highlighted how those internships translate to practical skills and networking.

"My mentor was great. And all my mentors for all the departments were great. And I'm still connected with them to this day," student Gianna Arnitz said of her internship at DS & Co., where she completed assignments tied to HubSpot Academy and Google Skillshop and helped with PR and social media work. Gianna told the board she attended the placement two afternoons per week and that the site’s workforce is majority female: "68% of their workers are women," she said.

Senior Colin Whiteman described a financial internship that included Excel work for investment portfolios and one‑on‑one meetings with professionals across roles. "Everybody there was there to help you," he said, adding the experience built his confidence for interviews and future internships.

District staff said early metrics and business feedback have been positive. Presenters noted a May networking event last year that drew about 80–90 local employers and officials; they plan to scale that event and to broaden the program’s web and social media presence to recruit students and partners. Officials also said the program was positioning the district to meet forthcoming state changes in diploma requirements tied to career readiness.

Next steps listed by district staff include expanding student participation (removing barriers such as transportation and full schedules), widening partnerships to cover all 14 career clusters, branding and outreach, and hosting more on‑campus industry speakers.

The board and several members praised the student presenters and recommended peer‑to‑peer outreach so current interns can speak directly with classmates about opportunities.

The presentation did not include a formal board vote; presenters said the program will return with implementation details and metrics in future meetings.