On April 28, 2022, the committee consisting of chairman Eric Walker, co-chairs Kim Martin and Lorena Godinez, and fellow members Peter Sierra, Derrick Parrott, Wendy Puckett and Niaz Khadem met to discuss the three areas shared from the community forums. They included skilled trades at high school; a skilled trade center; and life skills taught at the middle and high school levels.
Skilled trades are taught at the Area Technology Center at Mayfield High School and is for MHS, Graves County High School and Carlisle County High School. There is also a skilled trade center in Graves County on U.S. 45 North that is part of WKCTC called Skilled Craft Training Center. Life skills are also taught in the school systems, as well as through local youth organizations such as 4-H and the Agency on Substance Abuse Policy and Prevention Youth Council.
From those areas, and through other discussions, the committee developed this list of areas that we could explore:
- Limited access to skills training at the high school level and a need for expansion of the ATC facility.
- Improved community and business/industry communications.
- Internships, apprenticeships and mentorships between local students and committed businesses.
- Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
- Career exploration at a middle school level.
- Transportation issues for off-campus learning and/or worksites.
- Awareness of community, school, industry and business needs and what industries do.
- A branch with the Mayfield Minority Enrichment group to promote and provide information and support to the Hispanic community.
Following that meeting, the committee members were asked to prioritize three aspects to be out main focus moving forward. They included:
- Access to skilled trades training & expansion of Mayfield/Graves Area Technology Center (ATC) program.
- Improving awareness among businesses and industries, schools and community on what industries do and what they need from the workforce, and how does that connect with local education.
- Mentorships/Internships/Apprenticeships.
From these three areas during our May 19 meeting, the committee members have been asked to select an area to form a subcommittee to see what can be done to find solutions.
With the first, we know the ATC is at capacity (525 students from Mayfield, Graves County and Carlisle County high schools). However, ATC principal Mike Miller said he is interested in making sure the right students get involved at a younger age to know trades are their interest and they will stay in the ATC program. To do that, could a junior vocational program for middle school students be implemented? Would it be after school or a summer camp?
What options would be available to offer more students opportunities to learn trade skills? Could ATC’s facility be expanded? Are there other facilities (i.e. Skilled Craft Training Center, WKCTC, Innovation Hub, another ATC) that could be utilized? What other hurdles would need to be addressed, such as transportation?
Regarding career exploration, could we do more consistent programs throughout the year in elementary and middle schools? Can local trades and industries be part of school programs to show what they do and what jobs are available?
As for the second goal, the schools are planning a Professional Training Day on Aug. 1 with Graves County Economic Development (GCED) to tour local industry like PRCo and then do a “lunch and learn” to discuss outlook, needs, and establishing connections with schools for education and potential internships or shadowing opportunities.
With that, how else can we showcase various employment and job opportunities within our local industries and businesses? Could we develop an informational video or videos that can be used to educate our students and adults on areas of employment here?
And with mentoring, the committee listened to a proposal to develop a separate Jr. Youth Program outside of school that touches on various growth aspects of young people geared toward middle school students but led by college and high school students. Other areas of mentoring could also be internships and apprenticeships that relate to connecting the schools to local and regional industry.
Along with these are also topics that also relate to Quality of Life such as life skills, such as “Adulting 101” with ASAP or through the Graves County Extension Office, ESL Classes for adults and perhaps basic Spanish classes for English speakers, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
