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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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BRIDGES ACADEMIES AND WORKFORCE CONNECTION ADVANCES
ST. PAUL, MN – State Representative John Ward's proposal for Bridges Career Academy, a pilot project that will examine academic and career-related opportunities available to rural high school students, received positive feedback in the House Education Policy Committee on Thursday, and was advanced to the House K-12 Finance Committee.
The legislation establishes a three-year project involving the Brainerd, Crosby-Ironton, Staples Motley, Pillager and Pequot Lakes schools districts, the Central Lakes College, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce and participating business partners. The participants will establish multiple career academies that offer high school students academic courses and work-based learning experiences needed for employment in high-demand, well-paid careers within the region.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our five local school districts," said Ward. "It could be the key to helping our students find good paying, high demand jobs in our area."
The Bridges Academies include applied engineering, health sciences, manufacturing technology, business and administration, and nursing. The classes will be taught at an area high school, the Central Lakes College or at a business location for required work-based credits. Students will receive dual high school and college credit, incorporated with project and work-based learning.
The Bridges Workplace Connection is a bridge between education and business, and will offer internships, job shadowing experiences, employers in schools, teachers in the workplace and career days.
"The long-term economic viability of our region depends on a well-trained and educated workforce," said Ward. "This project has the added benefit of opening these job opportunities up to local students."
Testifying on behalf of the proposal were Pat Swarthout, Marketing Instructor at Central Lakes College; Twyla Flaws, HR Director, Clow Stamping; Rep. John Ward; Steve Razidlo, Assistant Superintendent of Brainerd School District and Lisa Paxton, CEO Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Bridges Academies and Workforce Connection has the support of the Governor and the State Commissioner of Education. The projection is for 1,000 students from the five school districts to participate in the program during the three-year pilot project.
"Based on what we heard today and the fact that the Commissioner and the Governor support this proposal, I'm very optimistic it will become a reality," said Ward.
For more information on the Bridges Career Academies and Workplace Connection, you can contact Rep. Ward at (651) 296- 4333, or 1-800-683-4205, by mail at 533 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.john.ward@house.mn.
Cutline: The following people were present to testify on behalf of the Bridges Acadamies: Pat Swarthout, Marketing Instructor at Central Lakes College; Twyla Flaws, HR Director, Clow Stamping; Rep. John Ward; Steve Razidlo, Assistant Superintendent of Brainerd School District and Lisa Paxton, CEO Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
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