Apr. 5—SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill County is experiencing an unprecedented demand for vocational and technical education, officials said Wednesday at a business and professional summit on Penn State Schuylkill campus.

Roy A. Heim, president of Heim Construction Co., said there are 195 students in schools across the county who are on a waiting list for enrollment in classes at the Schuylkill Technology Center's two campuses.

"At Blue Mountain, we have 88 eighth graders who want to go to STC," said Heim, a member of the Blue Mountain school board. "And 55 of them are on a waiting list."

Heim was joined by State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Twp., who noted the dramatic change in interest in vocational and technical education.

"Not all that long ago, there were empty seats at STC," said Argall, recently named chairman of the Senate Education Committee. "Now, there's a waiting list."

Blue Mountain School District's Business Education Partnership Program sponsored the breakfast meeting, which drew about 100 educators and business leaders.

The three-hour session comes amid growing emphasis on preparing students for jobs in the manufacturing sector, which employs about 560,000 people statewide.

Khalid N. Mumin, acting state secretary of education, on Tuesday announced the awarding of Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career grants, which provide STEM programs to students in grades five to 12.

"Providing students with opportunities to explore careers in manufacturing is crucial to Pennsylvania's economy," Mumin said. "The grants will ensure students have the tools to succeed now and in the ever-changing future."

Patrick M. Jones, Penn State Schuylkill chancellor, welcomed participants in the summit to the campus.

David H. Helsel, Blue Mountain's superintendent of schools, moderated the program.

Helsel outlined a series of educational initiatives implemented in communication, technology, science and financial literacy — suggestions from business made when the group last met in 2017 — to prepare students for the workforce of the future.

As early as elementary school, students receive courses in computer coding, and a course in Microsoft software is a graduation requirement. The number of students attending STC has tripled in recent years.

Blue Mountain is planning to implement Cambridge courses — advanced level classes aligned with college curricula — the first district in the state to do so.

And students will receive summa, magna and cum laude academic designations, replacing the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian ranks.

Efforts to expand technical education, Helsel said, have been hampered by the lack of technical education teachers. Only two state universities, Millersville and California, offer certification in that specialty.

"We'd like to do more," he said, "but we can't get the teachers."

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, Dallas, pledged support for workplace preparedness initiatives.

"Providing opportunities for technical education is key to helping communities become as competitive as possible," Meuser said.

Robert S. Carl Jr., president and CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, said workforce development is a collaborative process between business, education and government.

"Our job is not done; it's only beginning," Carl said. "It's very important for everyone in this room to share ideas and talents."

Brainstorming sessions facilitated by Blue Mountain educators came up with suggestions for improving workforce preparedness.

"Internships, internships, internships" was how Lisa Cook, Blue Mountain's internship coordinator, summed up ideas from the group she led.

Other suggestions included: developing classes in conversational Spanish, with emphasis on Mexican and Puerto Rican dialects; having business leaders go on the road and tell students what's expected of them to get jobs; and informing students about careers in the burgeoning industries of robotics and artificial intelligence.

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007