
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997               TAG: 9703250277

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   78 lines

STATE GRANTS TO HELP SCHOOLS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR JOBS DISTRICTS IN TYRRELL, DARE, HYDE AND CURRITUCK COUNTIES GOT FUNDS

It may seem a long jump from high school trigonometry to the timber business, but Albemarle educators hope new state grants will help close the gap between pep rallies and a paycheck.

The money is coming from a state program that helps high schoolers enter the workforce. School administrators like Tyrrell County Assistant Superintendent Nelson Smith are pleased with the opportunity to prepare students for jobs.

Tyrrell County is one of four Albemarle area school districts that were awarded grants through the JobReady initiative. Currituck, Dare and Hyde Counties also received grants.

Tyrrell County received $63,000 in state funds. Dare-Currituck received a joint grant of $100,000, and Hyde County got $15,000.

``Most of our money will go to hire a job broker, to serve as a liaison between the schools and business and industry,'' said Smith, whose school district has about 220 high-school age students. ``We don't have a great deal of industry in Tyrrell County, so we have to contact firms in neighboring counties like Weyerhauser.''

Working with businesses, educators hope to place students in internships.

``This will help give kids an idea of what it takes to succeed in the working world,'' Smith said. ``We hope this will open the door to part-time jobs, summer employment, and perhaps even to full-time jobs for those students who choose not to go on to college.''

Another benefit, Smith said, will be the development of a stronger link between schools and business.

``We hope to enable students to `shadow' individuals who are in the workforce, to learn about what they do in their jobs day to day,'' Smith said. ``And we hope to get businesses involved in career days at school, and activities like that.''

Paul O'Briant, director of vocational and technical education for the Currituck County schools, said JobReady will expand beyond the boundaries of high school to all grade levels. Like Tyrrell County, Currituck County will use its portion of the money for a job liaison.

``One of the things that's exciting about this is that there areapplications of this from kindergarten through the community college level,'' O'Briant said. ``In the lower grades, it could be something as simple as a field trip, just to build awareness of what's out there in our communities. At the middle school level, that could be expanded to apprenticeships and exploration programs, all the way to summer jobs at the high school level.''

O'Briant said that eventually students will be able to tailor their curriculum with an eye on the future.

``What we hope to do by the high school level is to help students design their course of study toward their career,'' O'Briant said. ``For example, a kid would be able to take three years of auto shop, if he wanted to go into auto mechanics. Another, who wanted to go on to liberal arts, could concentrate on history. We don't expect kids who are 14 years old to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. We simply want them to think about the choices they have.''

Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. launched JobReady in 1994 to give high-schoolers first-hand experience in the job market. Programs have been established in 94 counties. In all, some 70 communities will receive $8 million in grants.

The program will serve as an economic shot in the arm for job-starved rural counties like Tyrrell. Many youngsters travel to neighboring Dare County to find part-time work at its many restaurants.

``This is something we've really needed for so long,'' Smith said. ``We hope to have someone on board by July 1, and if we can get two kids placed, that would be a good start for a system our size.'' ILLUSTRATION: THE JOBREADY PROGRAM

Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. launched JobReady in 1994 to give

high-schoolers first-hand experience in the job market.

Programs have been established in 94 counties. In all, some 70

communities will receive $8 million in grants.

The program will serve as an economic shot in the arm for

job-starved rural counties like Tyrrell. Many youngsters travel to

neighboring Dare County to find part-time work at its many

restaurants.