ELO coordinator and students describe internships, job shadows and paid work‑study experiences

The board heard a detailed presentation on the district’s Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) program and several students described hands‑on internships and job shadows.

ELO coordinator Chris Brennick told the board the program has supported student placements across a wide range of community employers and credited community partners for opening their workplaces. "We've had 23 students in the community doing internships at lots of different places," he said, citing placements ranging from a local clinic to a paper mill and fabrication shops.

Students who participated described applied learning: Leila Tyler said ELO helped her practice classroom management, lesson planning and other skills while working with a music teacher; David Bishop described hands‑on experience at a mill learning vibration tests, oil sampling and priority maintenance orders that led to a summer internship opportunity. "ELO has given me real world experience on how to deal with things like, if a student is having a hard day, how can I help that?" Leila told the board.

Brennick said the district has secured some grant funding to support trips and immersive experiences and is pursuing additional grant commitments; he noted a $5,000 commitment identified to support experiential trips next year. Board members praised the program and asked clarifying questions about overlaps with JMG and Region 9 career programs; Brennick explained ELO differs by placing students directly in authentic workplaces while the other programs have different curricular emphases.

No action was required; administrators invited board members and the public to follow up with questions by email.