Important Notes About Career and Technical Education

Did know that ...

• Educate Maine has identified Computer Analysis and Support (Information Technology), Construction, Engineering, Healthcare, Hospitality, and Manufacturing as employment sectors that are in demand now and will be for the next 10 years in our state.

• Valley Unified's St. John Valley Technology Center (SJVTC) currently provides programs in Advanced Technologies (Information Technology), Construction Trades, Health Occupations, and a program in Welding and Fabrication that addresses important Manufacturing sector workforce needs.

• Priority #5 of the Valley Unified strategic plan, Rightsizing Education in the Upper St. John Valley, 2017-2027, is to review, align, and change SJVTC programs based on emerging workforce needs and demands.

• The SJVTC added a Forest Resource Management program this year to address the workforce development needs of our critically important local forest industry.

• The SJVTC has received approval from the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) to provide an Electrical Construction program and an Industrial Electrical Instrumentation program to help address the construction and manufacturing sector workforce demands in our region.

• The SJVTC also has received approval from MDOE to offer a program in Heavy Equipment Operation to help address local workforce development needs in the construction and forest industries.

• The SJVTC has partnered with Washington County Community College and local interested party, Twin Rivers Paper Company, to develop a Manufacturing Career Preparation training component to align with its existing programs in Welding and Fabrication, Advanced Technologies, and Forest Resource Management (lumber manufacturing) and its future Electrical Construction and Industrial Electrical Instrumentation programs.

• Another goal of the Manufacturing Career Preparation training component at the SJVTC is to prepare interested participants, beginning in 10th grade, to earn a nationally recognized Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician credential which will help address local needs for a qualified manufacturing production workforce.

While we are excited about these developments, we believe we could more effectively align core academic expectations with the applied technical learning in current and future programs at the SJVTC and more effectively address the workforce development needs of local employers, if all Upper St. John Valley middle and high school students were together under one roof on one comprehensive, integrated school campus where we could expose more students to these and other potential Career and Technical Education learning opportunities.

#valleyunified

The "New Possible" in Business Studies

Did you know that ...

• Well-managed and efficiently-operated small businesses and companies are a critical part of Maine's culture and economy, and account for up to three-fifths of our state's private workforce.

• None of the three high schools in the Upper St. John Valley currently has a comprehensive program of business preparation studies, even though we have students interested in pursuing business careers and even someday becoming small business owners.

• Comprehensive programs of business preparation studies gradually became unavailable at our local high schools due to smaller student enrollments.

We believe we could effectively align core academic studies with an integrated program of comprehensive business studies, beginning in 9th grade, if all Upper St. John Valley students were together under one roof on one campus.

We believe we could effectively link both academic subject matter and practical business studies with the workforce development needs of local businesses and the economic development needs of local communities, if all Upper St. John Valley educators had the opportunity to work together daily as a single team focused on the development and delivery of integrated academic and career-focused learning opportunities in business practices.

We believe that credit-bearing internships in local, community-based businesses and companies would benefit not only our students but also our local businesses, employers, and communities by introducing students to the employment and small business development opportunities in our region.

We believe the proposed Valley Unified Regional School represents the "new possible" for the students, educators, businesses, employers, citizens, and communities of the Upper St. John Valley.

To consider a Business Practices example of this "new possible", click here or on the image below to view sample content from a potential Valley Unified Regional Learning Center Pathways Program of Studies.

#valleyunified

Still more of the "New Possible"

Did you know that Educate Maine ...

• Has identified Hospitality as a high-demand occupational and career sector in our state.

• Reports there are approximately 14,000 annual Hospitality employment openings in Maine.

• Reports there are unfilled jobs at middle class pay scales in this sector, because applicants for these openings do not have the necessary skills, credentials, or occupational certifications.

• Indicates, as a career sector, Hospitality rewards creativity, energy, and hard work through opportunities for those working in this field to work their up from entry level roles to positions as managers of restaurants and hotels or even small business owners, all while contributing to the Tourism industry -- a key economic driver in our state and region.

We believe we could more effectively align core academic expectations with the applied technical learning in current and potential future programs at the St. John Valley Technology Center, if all our region's high school educators had the opportunity to work together under one roof on one campus.

We believe we could more effectively link both academic and technical education with the training needs of businesses and employers in our region by providing all our secondary school educators the opportunity to work together daily as a single team focused on the design and delivery of integrated academic and career-focused learning opportunities for all Upper St. John Valley students, beginning in 9th grade.

We believe the proposed Valley Unified Regional School represents the "new possible" for the students, educators, businesses, employers, citizens, and communities of the Upper St. John Valley.

To consider a Hospitality/Culinary/Tourism example of this "new possible", click here or on the image below to view sample content from a potential Valley Unified Regional Learning Center Pathways Program of Studies.

#valleyunified

December 10 Valley Unified Board of Directors Meeting

The Valley Unified Education Service Center Board of Directors met in Frenchville at the St. John Valley Technology Center on Tuesday, December 10, 2019.  To view the WOWL Channel 16 video recording of the meeting, click here or on the image below.

#valleyunified

Public Hearings and Straw Polls on Recommended Site for Proposed School

A schedule of public hearings and straw polls concerning the recommended site for the proposed Valley Unified Regional School appears below.  Please note the date, time, and location for the session in the School Administrative Unit where you reside.  For those of you who may be seeing this post for a second time, please note that this is revised schedule.  Public attendance at the hearings is welcomed and encouraged.

#valleyunified

Valley Unified Set to Launch Soft Skills Workshop Series for Students

In January, 2020, Valley Unified will launch a series of soft skills workshops as part of its Internship Preparation program aimed at addressing Priority #7 in its strategic plan, Rightsizing Education in the Upper St. John Valley.  

Strategic Priority #7 addresses building upon existing connections and establishing new working relationships with local businesses to enhance experiential learning opportunities for all students through a comprehensive career-focused internship program.

The goal of the soft skills sessions is to prepare students for successful, productive participation in community-based, credit-bearing internships aligned with their career interests.

The sessions will address interpersonal, people skills associated with job success.

Local businesses also are expected to benefit from hosting student interns by introducing young people to employment opportunities in our Upper St. John Valley communities.

On January 9 and 10, all Valley Unified 9th graders will gather for the following soft skills sessions:

Additional sessions and topics in the series will be delivered to 10th graders on later dates.

Valley Unified students will participate in internships as 11th and 12th graders.

#valleyunified

Safety Steps

Good afternoon Valley Unified Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students, and Community Members,

Please access the letter below to learn about what steps our schools are taking in response to the social media scare we received last week.   Thank you for those who have supported us in this matter.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

We wish you all a peaceful week leading up to the holiday break.

http://bit.ly/SafetyStepsVU

Student Safety

Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students, and Residents,

Please read the attached letter regarding student safety at our schools.  We want to thank all of you that have supported us this week, helping to ensure safe schools for our students!  Have a restful weekend! 

http://bit.ly/SafeStudents

Upcoming Meeting of the Valley Unified Board of Directors

The Valley Unified Education Service Center Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at the St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville, beginning at 6 PM.  To review the meeting agenda, click here or on the image below. 

#valleyunified