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MIDDLEFIELD -- The Cardinal Local School District has launched the Cardinal Corporate Collaborative, which is an alternate educational pathway for students who can leave high school with the skills and knowledge in manufacturing and engineering workforces.
"We are excited to be able to partner with our area industries and businesses to provide career opportunities for the students at Cardinal Local Schools," Superintendent Jack Cunningham said.
Cardinal kicked things off with an informational meeting earlier this month, where many administrators met with local businesses in the area, such as Flambeau, Hexpol, Mercury Plastics and Norman Noble.
Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich said he is hopeful about the teamwork that could be implemented.
"I am appreciative of the effort and expense the Cardinal Schools have dedicated to implementing an educational program that will provide genuine value to our valued business partners," Garlich said. "I know results will not be immediate but when the program hits maturity the benefit to the individuals, our businesses and the village will be nothing short of remarkable. Our village is willing to assist in all ways possible to help ensure success of this program. Our village fortunately has a lot of momentum and this is a critical piece to maintaining and promoting future quality growth."
The students will have a chance to earn an Industry-Recognized Credential Seal, which could include an occupational license. This license is awarded from state government agencies and is often for a specific position. The students' other two options are certifications and a certificate. Certification is the mastery in specific knowledge and skills that can be accepted by the industry's standards. A certificate can be earned by completing the necessary training courses.
"Students will be earning credentials through licenses, certifications and certificates that have been recognized and used by multiple Ohio employers in the manufacturing sector," Cunningham said.
Any student participating in this pathway will be trained and can earn multiple Lean Six Sigma Certifications -- a methodology that includes a systematic approach that relies on a collective team effort to improve performance by removing waste. The students can earn three different belts, and are mainly for students who are looking to work with quality management.
"Businesses will have potential to build relationships with our students as early as ninth grade through multiple lenses such as facility tours, introduction seminars at the high school, job shadowing, internships, interviews ending with job offers," Cunningham said.
Looking at the details of the credentials, students can be trained in the engineering or manufacturing fields. Those who choose the engineering field will work with a program called SolidWorks. Students working in manufacturing can work with machines like the Pneumatics Learning System, the Laser CutterCertification, and 3D Printing Certification.
As for the participating companies, Cardinal will give them a seat on the Cardinal Local Business Advisory Committee, an invitation to two exclusive Cardinal Junior / Senior job fairs during September and May, an advertisement on their school website, a partnership banner located on Thompson Avenue or Almeda Drive, a business banner in a location of their choice at the stadium or in the gymnasium, exclusive sponsorship of one Cardinal home district event as a sponsor, and access to district facilities for business meetings, training, and / or gatherings of their choice.
"The turnout for the CCC was excellent and I'm very excited to help get this program up and running," said Cardinal's treasurer Seth Cales. "Partnering with our local businesses to create a pipeline for our students will be tremendously beneficial for our students, our business partners, and our local community. I am very excited for the future of CCC."
Cardinal will implement the program at the start of the 2023-24 school year.