October
2019
Business Connection
Volume 11, Issue 10
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Longview Public Schools' Dan Zorn and Jill Diehl presented information about the district's upcoming bond, CTE/STEM curriculum and the importance of partnerships at the Chamber of Commerce's Quarterly Membership Luncheon in September.
Longview Public Schools Superintendent Dan Zorn
Vocational Programs Move Careers to the Front of the Class Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Amy Hallock Project Manager Pam Fierst Office Manager Joelle Wilson Social Media Services
Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or email bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month
L
ast year, Longview Public Schools opened the new pre-apprenticeship program at Mark Morris High School. The pre-apprenticeship program is designed to provide our graduates options to go straight into an apprentice trade program and work. This year, the school district held a grand opening event for the new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) vocational program at R.A. Long High School. The high tech vocational program will provide students opportunities to pursue medical, manufacturing and technology careers after graduation. The district’s vocational programs are open to all Longview high school students, regardless of the school they attend. This means students from R.A. Long can take pre-apprenticeship classes at Mark Morris and vice versa. When people hear about these two new vocational programs they often ask why the district has included $8.4 million in the bond measure for vocational education. If you’ve visited our construction technology
shop, metal or welding work areas or our culinary arts kitchen at the high schools you probably wouldn’t ask this question. While the district has upgraded two vocational programs using grant, donation and district resources, the other programs need significant upgrades. If the school bond measure passes, all the vocational programs in the district will receive an upgrade. Specifically, every program will get upgraded classrooms, workspaces, equipment and tools. This means students will be taught current work concepts and methods, then apply them using industry standard tools and equipment. Additionally, workspaces will be changed or modified to accommodate modern safety practices. The district’s goal is for graduates to leave school with options. Currently, about half of Longview Public Schools’ graduating seniors move on to more schooling. This includes students who move For more Longview Public Schools, see page 3