FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tech programs prepare students for workplace success
April 28, 2005, Belleville, Ontario—The power of technology and its advances are all-encompassing. Technology in education helps prepare today’s young people to become the skilled trades workers of tomorrow. Students who acquire technological skills and knowledge go on to be vibrant contributors to the local and global economies. They become critical and innovative thinkers who question, understand and respond to the implications of technological innovation, and find solutions to service and product needs.

As a small school district, the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) is a provincial leader when it comes to course offerings and student choice for our secondary students. All of our schools offer technological education courses in a variety of areas. We maximize student choice by organizing our schools so that each secondary school has a core set of programs with additional offerings of specialized programs that may be unique to a school. This approach allows us to maximize choices for our students while staying within funding restraints.

“For many years, the main focus in education was academics. In Hastings and Prince Edward, we had a different approach. We have offered technology-based programs for several years; with the renewed focus on these programs, will continue to do so. It made sense back then and still makes sense today,” remarks Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board. “The F.I.R.S.T. program at North Hastings High School is just one example of how the Board is providing opportunities for students who choose the workplace pathway after graduating from secondary school,” she adds.

Students can access a broad range of programs in each of our secondary schools to complete a secondary school diploma. If the home school does not offer enough courses in an area of specialization, students may access a neighboring school through a school transfer process.

It is a challenge in a small board to have the complete spectrum of secondary school technological education courses available in every school. There is often not enough student demand to run full courses in every stream of technological education. Schools monitor student and community interest and make adjustments to their program offerings routinely. In HPEDSB, we ensure the full spectrum of technological courses is available through a coordinated approach at the district level. If the specific course a student is looking for is not available at their local secondary school, we usually can provide that program at a neighboring secondary school.

In addition to the technology courses offered at secondary schools, all students have access to the skilled trades through OYAP (the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) and other partner programs.

In HPEDSB, we continue to expand course offerings and enhance student choice under our Student Success initiative. In the past two years there has been a specific focus on expanding school-to-work programs to help students develop skills and connections to the workplace and the skilled trades. For example, one new offering is the F.I.R.S.T. (Forestry Industry Related Skills Training) program at North Hastings High School. F.I.R.S.T. helps students develop the skills required for the forest industry.

Transportation is provided for students to their home school. It is possible for students to access transportation to a school outside their boundary if the student can get to an existing pick-up location where there is space on a bus.

For information, contact:
• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer (613) 966-1170, or 1 800 267-4350 ext. 2354