Students present work-based internships to Salem board; board praises program

Students from Amy Maxwell’s work-based learning class presented internships to the board, describing placements across health care, agriculture, real estate, early childhood education and manufacturing.

Logan Sacuilla introduced the group and described volunteering at a rescue squad where responsibilities included assisting EMTs and paramedics with patient transport. "My name is Logan Sacuilla," the student said, and recounted learning from on-call experiences and hands-on mentoring.

Other students described internships at a veterinary clinic where they observed procedures and used diagnostic equipment; work with a realty agency doing listings and closings; dairy production and record-keeping using farm management software; a pre-K placement where students practiced de-escalation and classroom support; and a manufacturing internship observing production floor operations.

Board members asked about how often students attend internships (some go one or two periods weekly), how internship timing fits into the school year, and certification earned (OSHA 10-hour cards for many fields). Administrators said internships typically begin in January and run through the academic term, with class time retained for career planning and financial literacy.

Public commenters and board members praised the community partners and encouraged regular instructional presentations at meetings so voters understand how local tax dollars support programs.