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Building trades urge Palm Springs Unified to explore community workforce agreements and CTE pathways
Summary
Representatives from Ironworkers Local and allied building trades urged the board to consider community workforce agreements, apprenticeships and CTE partnerships to create local job pathways for students and veterans.
Multiple representatives of Ironworkers Local and allied building trades used the public‑comment period on Sept. 23 to ask the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education to explore community workforce agreements (CWAs), apprenticeship pathways and career‑technical education partnerships.
Speakers — including Louie Lopez (business agent, Ironworkers Local 433), Robert Ramos (representing 16 building trades), Robert Lehi (retired ironworker and MC3 instructor) and Albert Duarte (building trades representative) — asked the board to allow meetings with trade representatives to explain CWAs and associated pre‑apprenticeship programs, and to explore CTE and work‑based learning partnerships across district schools.
Panelists described specific programs and benefits: Louie Lopez emphasized pathways for veterans and women into union apprenticeships and a partnership called “How Much the Hard Hats” (as described by the speaker) to create direct entry to apprenticeship programs. Robert Ramos said accredited four‑year apprenticeship programs can offer debt‑free career pathways and cited average ironworker wages he presented (speaker‑stated range of $80,000–$140,000). Robert Lehi described the MC3 (Multi‑Crafts Core Curriculum) 120‑hour pre‑apprenticeship classes he teaches and said those programs prepare students for local careers and keep young workers in the community. Albert Duarte described broader building‑trades interest in creating CTE programs in middle and high schools and investing in apprenticeship schools.
Board and superintendent response: Board members thanked the speakers and asked staff to gather more information. Superintendent Francis said she is familiar with CWAs from her time in San Bernardino City Unified and said the district would bring back information about community workforce agreements so the board can consider them.
Ending: No action or vote was taken; presenters requested future meetings with district staff to discuss details of agreements and potential local implementation.
