Central York board hears results of NOVA workforce‑development pilot that placed 19 students in paid internships

Central York School District directors on May 11 heard details of a federally funded workforce‑development pilot that has placed 19 high‑school students in paid internships and provided transition services intended to smooth the move from school to employment.

The presentation by Ellie Lamison, workforce readiness coordinator, and Andy Cassell, Panther Pathways instructor, described a partnership with NOVA Consulting Group and the South Central Workforce Investment Board that covers administrative reporting while Central York provides day‑to‑day case management. "This pilot lets us provide paid internships, behind‑the‑wheel training and essential documentation so students can get jobs — not just diplomas," Lamison said.

Why it matters: District leaders said the pilot addresses well‑documented barriers to employment for students who face transportation, documentation and training gaps. Cassell emphasized practical supports: "We’re buying welding hoods, paying for driving instruction and helping students open bank accounts so they can actually get to work and be paid for it." White Rose Credit Union is partnering to open student accounts, and NOVA is handling grant reporting requirements.

Program details and early results: Presenters reported the pilot served 19 students drawn from varied populations: seven students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 10 eligible for free or reduced lunch and eight students in Panther Pathways. The grant has subsidized behind‑the‑wheel training for 10 students and helped seven obtain permits or driver’s licenses. Attendance among participating students improved markedly in early reports — presenters pointed to examples showing reductions in absences by roughly half for some students.

Student examples illustrated the range of placements. Cassell described "Tommy," a senior working on an AI consolidation project in the tech hub who will attend Penn State, and "Chance," a junior who received a new welding hood from the grant and is preparing to take a welding certification test. Cassell said students fill timesheets, receive biweekly evaluations and work with job coaches from NOVA as part of individualized transition plans.

Board members asked about eligibility and scale. Directors queried the $14,000 TANF‑family threshold and whether students can qualify as a "family of one;" presenters confirmed that the TANF threshold is used for eligibility in many cases and that a student can be assessed as a family of one. Lamison said the district initially planned to serve 10–15 students but expanded to 18–20 at the workforce board’s request and ultimately enrolled 19. "We’d like a year‑long pilot next year and to explore expansion across South Central Pennsylvania if outcomes continue to look promising," she said.

Limitations and next steps: Presenters stressed this is an early pilot and that NOVA’s involvement made rapid deployment possible because the firm handled grant writing and administrative requirements. The board heard that the district aims to secure a year‑long pilot for 2026–27 and, if successful, to model expansion beyond the district.

The board did not vote on the program at the meeting; directors offered praise and recommended continuing cross‑department coordination for accounting, HR and student services as the pilot evolves.