St. Francis schools outline career-pathways plan, seek coordinator and internships

St. Francis Area Schools staff on May 12 presented a multi-year plan to expand career and college pathways, asking the board to consider funding for a pathways coordinator and to support expanded internships and technical and medical career options.

Presenters — led by Erica Campbell, a high-school counselor, with contributions from job-coaching and technical-education staff — described steps already taken: expanding on-campus internships that can appear on students’ transcripts, aligning ninth- and twelfth-grade “Future Prep” coursework with pathways, integrating the state MCIS (Minnesota Career Information System) tool in middle-school programming, and piloting ways for students to register for an identified pathway at the high school.

“Each of the departments has to create a job that they choose to do,” Campbell said, describing examples such as a PE equipment manager position that runs through an application and interview process and, if completed, is recorded on a student’s transcript. The presenters said internships and work-based learning help students test career interests without committing to lengthy postsecondary training.

Staff asked the board to consider a career-pathways coordinator — a role several presenters said they saw at neighboring districts as central to organizing employer partnerships, internships and course sequencing. Presenters linked the coordinator role to CTE (career and technical education) funding and said gains in the program would likely rely on additional staffing or reallocation of CTE resources.

The team identified medical careers (including CNA or similar certifications) as a high-priority area the district lost five to six years ago and would like to restore. “We are really trying to figure out how to get medical careers back,” a presenter said. Members of the board and community asked whether PSEO, technical-school partnerships or apprenticeships could be used to provide credit or entry into trade and technical careers; presenters said the district faces licensing and funding hurdles but that regional partnerships and PS E O credits could be explored.

Board members pressed on implementation details: how students move between pathways, how the district will assess pathway demand, and how parents will be informed. Presenters said pathways are intended to be changeable; counselors will meet each trimester with students who want to alter their choices, and the district will use January registration and ninth-grade Future Prep class time to inform students and parents.

Presenters said next steps include focusing professional development on integrating pathways into classroom content, hosting a middle-school career conference with short sessions, and continuing to grow internships and community partnerships. No board vote was taken; staff said they will return with more detailed cost and staffing requests as plans firm up.