Teen intern pitches DeKalb County-Fleet apprenticeship linking high schools to county fleet jobs

A 19-year-old intern, Makai Bolton, presented a proposal to the DeKalb County Operations Committee to expand apprenticeship access by connecting DeKalb County School District career-technical programs with the county Fleet Management Division.

The presenter described the goal as building a pipeline of trained technicians who could move from high school certification programs into county fleet jobs. Bolton said the program would draw from 13 high schools that participate in the DeKalb County High School of Technology and could expand access beyond the limited number of technical colleges currently partnered with fleet.

Why it matters: County fleet leaders reported recruitment and retention challenges for mechanics and technicians. The proposal aims to address workforce shortages by offering paid on-the-job training to high school students who have industry certifications, reducing the gap between classroom credentials and job placement.

Key points from the presentation - Program purpose: "The purpose of this project is to address staffing challenges with fleet and develop the partnership between DeKalb County School District," Bolton said on the record.

- Current partnerships and gaps: Bolton listed existing partners such as Georgia Piedmont and Gwinnett Technical College and said the DeKalb County High School of Technology serves students from 13 county high schools (he listed Arabia, Cedar Grove, Clarkston, Columbia, Lithonia, MLK, Miller Grove, [Bridal/Briar?], Banneker, Stevenson, Stone Mountain, Towers and Southwest). He said many students receive certifications but lack nearby employers that will hire them into entry-level fleet jobs.

- Proposed solutions: Expand apprenticeship access to the 13 high schools, provide paid time off and recruitment incentives where possible, improve outreach (social media, DCTV pieces, hiring events), and create a vetting mechanism (applications, teacher recommendations, interviews) for student participants.

- Retention and incentives: Bolton proposed incentives such as flexible scheduling, PTO and periodic salary surveys; he also suggested transportation assistance for students who must travel across the county.

Reaction and next steps Commissioners and staff praised the presentation. Director Gordon (Fleet) and other staff said they already work with several technical schools and are on advisory committees; they discussed outreach to guidance counselors and the need to coordinate with the DeKalb County School District and the school board. Commissioners asked staff to meet with the school system and guidance counselors to explore next steps and to return with a plan for coordination and implementation.

Speakers quoted in this article are included in the speaker list below and are drawn from the meeting transcript.