District C program gives Lenoir County students real-world business experience; local partners report they will use student ideas

The Lenoir County Board of Education on Oct. 6 heard a report on District C, a summer workforce-development program that placed 28 students from four high schools with local businesses to develop implementable solutions and professional skills.

District C “is an experience where students solve real problems for real businesses,” presenter Dr. Anne Jones told the board. The program ran this summer and included partnerships with Neuse Regional Library, Pink Hill Chiropractic and the Kinston Community Council for the Arts.

District C’s purpose, Dr. Jones said, is to give students team-based problem solving, exposure to business professionals and opportunities to build networks. Students visited partner sites, developed solutions, pitched them to the businesses and fielded questions in public presentations.

The presentation said 28 students participated this year, ranging from rising freshmen to rising seniors. Coaches who lead District C are teachers from the district; the program’s coaches undergo training to be certified. Dr. Jones said the program was funded through a community partnership grant and a “20 first century community learning center grant” that supports summer programming for grades six through 12. (The transcript records the grant name as stated above.)

Business partners reported positive results. The presentation said all three business partners surveyed said they were “extremely likely” or agreed they planned to use at least parts of the student teams’ proposals. Dr. Jones told the board that, from an earlier District C cycle, two internships resulted and that this year’s cycle produced two more internships.

Students described the experience in the presentation. One student said the program was “high pressure” but “fun,” and that working on a team with peers from other schools was valuable. Another student said visiting a partner facility — in one case the Kinston Community Council for the Arts — was their first time inside that organization and that the experience gave new perspective on local institutions.

Dr. Jones said the program emphasizes collaboration, problem solving and giving quieter students a chance to contribute. “It takes our introverts and our extroverts and teaches them how to work efficiently and effectively and to value everybody’s voice,” she said.

The board was told the program has produced concrete results for business partners and students: business partners described the students’ ideas as “truly insightful,” and multiple partners reported they plan to use parts of the proposals. Dr. Jones said those business reactions helped secure two internships following a previous District C event and two more after this year’s event.

Board members did not take formal action on the report; presenters asked the board to note the results and continued community support for District C. The presentation included photos, participation counts and survey summaries that the district said demonstrate improved student confidence in teamwork, problem solving and workplace readiness.

The board packet includes more detail on partners, funding and student participation.