Career Opportunities Programs and Projects

 

YEAR - ONE:

The Workforce Development Council was awarded $245,000 from the Arkansas Career Opportunities System to initiate a Southwest Arkansas Plan. Listed below are initiatives begun in Year-One.

 

  • Resource Center - Research was begun to develop a central Resource Center of materials and information for access and use by the 46 school districts in the Southwest Arkansas Region 7 area. To view Resource Center,..click here.
  • Surveys - As administrators of the Southwest Arkansas Career Opportunities System, Southwest Arkansas Planning & Development District, Inc. (SWAPDD) conducted business, school and student surveys.
  • Public Outreach - Radio commercials were developed for broadcast by radio stations in the 12 county area to encourage public awareness of Career Opportunities. Some newspaper ads were issued, along with several press releases for Arkansas' Public School Week. Region 7 utilized state prepared brochures and stickers and participated in funding television ads by the State of Arkansas. As a region, teacher and business/industry mini-conferences were conducted in conjunction with the three area Education Cooperatives to generate awareness and to develop education and business partners within the System.
  • South Arkansas Community College - conducted a teacher Career Academy to enlighten some 40 local educators about area business and industry and how a students public school education might relate to today's workplace environment. The college also managed the development of four videos about business and industry jobs available in Southwest Arkansas.

 

YEAR TWO

The Workforce Development Council was awarded $445,000 from the Arkansas Career Opportunities System to continue development of the Southwest Arkansas Career Opportunities System. Listed below are initiatives that are in various stages of progress for year two, beginning 10/1/99 through 9/30/2000.

     

  • The expansion of the Arkansas Scholars program in Southwest Arkansas was funded in the amount of $8,500. The Arkansas Business & Education Alliance program develops business partners for public middle & high schools and employs programs to develop student workplace readiness, life skill training, as well as, provide student mentoring, workplace tours and classroom speakers.
  • Competitive Mini-Grants for K-12 public schools were authorized and granted in amounts of $5,000 to $10,000 each, for a total of $50,000. Forty-six public school districts were offered the opportunity to compete for these mini-grants. Seven school districts submitted Request For Approval, which were submitted by the 11/8/99 deadline. For information on the awards, please email: jim.lassiter@mail.state.ar.us
  • Cossatot Technical College was funded in the amount of $110,923. The College will conduct in-service like training for educators in a 3 county area (Sevier, Howard and Little River County);l implement Workforce Readiness & Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy (WAGE) programs, expand Adult Education Center capabilities, implement Work Keys analysis of area employers, organize student tours, and develop business partners for K-12 public schools.
  • Dallas County Adult Education Center was funded in the amount of $ 12,500. The Center purchased 8 computers, software and printers to expand computer training to at-risk student populations.
  • Fouke Middle School was funded in the amount of $ 2,500. The school is developing a model 'regional council' as a collaborative organization for rural school districts to organize and maintain business partners and related student opportunities of job shadowing, mentoring , apprenticeships, internships, student tours and classroom speakers.
  • Groundhog Job Shadow Day will be observed by various participating public school districts for grades 7th through 12th on February 2nd of each year. This is national and state sponsored program that allows students to spend a day at public and private employers, learning and experiencing a real workplace environment.
  • Public Outreach will include funding of $44,500 to Statewide and $6,909 for local advertising. The three area Educational Cooperatives were funded a combined total of $10,000 to assist with area educator awareness and program development. Southwest Arkansas Planning & Development District, Inc. will be conducting surveys of Parents, Students, Business Partners and Education Partners as part of the outreach strategy.
  • South Arkansas Community College was funded in the amount of $108,068. The College intends to continue the Career Academy for area educators, conduct a student Career Expo, develop Mentoring and internship opportunities and to again develop the View Books which include all area two year colleges.
  • Southwest Arkansas Planning & Development District, Inc. will continue as the Administrator of the Career Opportunities System in Southwest Arkansas. They will provide a Regional Coordinator to work with the 46 school districts in the 12 county area, develop and publish a newsletter, conduct out- reach functions, continue development and operation of the Resource Center, expand Career Path Planning and other career-oriented programs, promote Groundhog Job Shadowing Day, handle speaking engagements, handle assessment functions and prepare Quarterly and Annual Implemen- tation Grant Request. as well as, develop Buy-In of area educators and to develop Business Partners for the 46 area school districts. The Regional Coordinator will also pursue access to Career Path Planning software in public libraries, school libraries and school computer labs.
  • Texarkana Chamber of Commerce sponsored Career Fair was funded in the amount of $1,000. This Career Fair was conducted at the Four States Fair Grounds Arena in Texarkana, Ar. on 10/29/99. The Newspaper reported that 3,000 11th and 12th grade students attended from 2 counties in Texas and 4 counties in Arkansas. This first time Career Fair was held in conjunction with and just preceding a Business Expo comprised of 110 Exhibitors. This is planned to be an annual event. Those interested in Student Career Fairs in their area should email: jim.lassiter@mail.state.ar.us