Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workforce Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Boards consider job fair, internships and housing to counter enrollment decline
Summary
Trustees and supervisors discussed falling enrollment (down roughly 200–300 students since 2017), workforce readiness programs including a planned May job fair and internships, and long‑term housing strategies to attract families; officials urged business involvement and mentorships.
Board members and school leaders discussed enrollment decline and workforce development strategies as connected issues.
"We are working off an enrollment of 1,417," Superintendent Dr. Amanda Hester said, and trustees cited a drop of about 200–300 students since 2017. The boards discussed housing and family‑friendly development in the Comprehensive Plan as a long‑term strategy to boost enrollment, while nearer‑term efforts include a May job fair to connect students with local employers and expanded work‑based learning, internships and soft‑skills training.
Trustees urged community and business engagement, and Dr. Hester said the Schools are coordinating with local colleges and technical centers including PVCC, CATEC and CVCC to create pathways. The boards also raised workforce shortages for critical public works positions such as water and wastewater operators and discussed licensure and SCADA system complexity that make staffing those roles harder.
