Byrl R. Shoemaker, director of the Division of Vocational Education of the State of Ohio, came up with the concept of a residential vocational school in January 1964.

Under the Manpower, Development and Training Act of 1962, the Mahoning Valley Vocational School (MVVS) was established as the first residential vocational training program for troubled or “disadvantaged” Ohio boys. The school opened on July 29, 1964, and was located at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna.

The program was geared toward boys ages 16 to 21 with cultural, educational, economical and / or social problems. Many of the young men were rejected by the Armed Forces as they were emotionally immature and / or educationally unfit, or did not meet the requirements for Job Corps. Many were also high school dropouts or were high school graduates that did not have a salable skill. Any boy that enrolled at the MVVS was accepted into the program.

The school’s mission was to assist young men in gaining the skills, work habits and proper attitudes to be productive in society. The program also assisted trainees with the development of individual talents, good moral character, healthy mind and body, and a sense of social responsibility.

The educational phase of the program was funded by the Manpower, Development, and Training Act of 1962. The residential phase of the program was funded through a $250,000 trust fund established by the Leon A. Beeghly Foundation.

The following vocational training programs were offered: electrical appliance repairman, auto body repairman, auto mechanic, auto service station attendant mechanic, baker, accounting clerk, general office clerk, cook, groundskeeper-custodian, draftsman, tabulating machine and console operator, building maintenance, machine operator, stock inventory clerk, welding, small engine repair and peripheral equipment operator. Program length ranged from 6 to 12 months depending on area of study. Students generally attended eight hours of class each day.

Facilities at MVVS included four furnished dormitories, an education building, a guidance center, vocational shops, a recreation center and a medical dispensary. A dining hall was also on the premises where meals were served cafeteria style.

Counseling and dormitory supervision was provided by men with training and / or experience in sociology or youth work. A psychologist was available as well as religious services with chaplains, including a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister.

Job placement of graduates from the training center was reported to be approximately 80 percent. There was also a follow-up program to keep track of graduating students and their success so that improvements in certain classes were made.

Don E. Watson, director of the MVVS, gave a testimonial of the success of the school in 1966 before the General Subcommittee on Education in the House of Representatives when the Vocational Amendments of 1966 were being considered.

In 1967, Watson gave another testimonial in hopes to gain funding for program expansion. At that time, the maximum capacity at the MVVS was 485 students at one time with an annual enrollment of about 900 students from across the state. The cost of the school per student was projected to be $3,500 in 1967, whereas in previous years the cost was approximately $2,500 per student.

By 1969, more than 2,000 students had graduated from the MVVS since its opening. Even though the program was deemed a success and operated more economically than the Job Corps program at the time, the Department of Labor denied future funding, causing its closure by August 1970.