Correspondent photo / Chris McBride AVI Foodsystems Chef Adam LaBenne addresses students in the bistro program at Warren G. Harding High School as they work on preparing pizzas during a hands-on class session.

WARREN — Warren G. Harding High School is launching two career initiatives with a student-run culinary bistro and a manufacturing apprenticeship.

As the first of its kind in the area, the district said the apprenticeship program creates a direct pipeline for students into high-paying local careers.

The Culinary Bistro Program, in partnership with AVI Foodsystems, is a two-year program that gives students hands-on experience in both “front and back of the house” operations through a double-block schedule. The classes will be taught by AVI chef Adam LaBenne and family and consumer sciences teacher Brandy Scarmack.

Dr. Janis Ulicny, head principal at Harding, and Jennifer Cambareri, principal of curriculum and instruction, stressed that both programs reflect a focus on college and career readiness, workforce development and partnerships with local industries, all amplified by the new wellness center’s resources.

District officials said the curriculum covers food preparation, recipe development, nutrition, menu planning and restaurant business fundamentals. Students in the program work toward ServSafe industry-recognized credentials, including food handling, allergens and person-in-charge certifications that are valued across the food service industry.

Officials said the bistro experience also counts as a preapprenticeship that provides practical resume-building skills for those pursuing culinary school or entry-level restaurant work. One student already has been accepted to a culinary program.

Administrators said they eventually would like to form a ProStart culinary team to compete at a national level.

The bistro, housed in the school’s Recreation and Wellness Center, is in a testing phase. Students have experimented with upscale items such as feta avocado toast, tomato feta soup, sandwiches, pizzas and baked goods. The district said they wanted to introduce students to new flavors, ethnic ingredients and nutritionally balanced meals.

Feedback sessions have helped the student staff refine the menu ahead of soft openings this spring and a fuller public launch in the fall.

Senior Trevor Daniel, one of the students involved, credited Scarmack and administrators with pushing the program forward.

“Without her, it wouldn’t have gotten this far,” he said.

He added that the experience has broadened his skills in teamwork and cooking, even as he eyes a future in criminal justice.

“I can definitely see myself being into cooking… the skills I acquired from Bistro, it can take me a long way,” Daniel said.

MANUFACTURING APPRENTICESHIP

While the bistro builds excitement around culinary pathways, district leaders placed particular emphasis on the MFG Ready manufacturing pilot as a groundbreaking effort to address workforce gaps in Trumbull County.

District officials said Harding is the only high school in the county piloting the two-year program in collaboration with the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition. It targets juniors who will continue through senior year with the goal of transitioning participants into employment with local manufacturers upon graduation.

The program will give students direct connections to employers such as Ajax Tocco and Warren Precision Products. Students also will be able to complete a paid summer internship for 30 hours per week for eight weeks with transportation provided by the district. There also will be a chance for students to receive ongoing mentorship throughout the senior year.

The technical training students gain will get them a Certified Manufacturing Associate industry-recognized credential.

Cambareri said the program emerged from conversations about bridging the gap between high school credentials and actual job placement, particularly in manufacturing, where demand is high but awareness among teens is low.

“We have an in-house pre-apprenticeship program for construction and welding with great success… but there has been some difficulty after graduation for students to connect to employers,” Cambareri said.

The MFG Ready initiative sees the district aiming to change that by giving students early exposure via hands-on experience and a direct pipeline to living-wage jobs with advancement opportunities, including tuition assistance for further education.

Thirteen students committed to the pilot after informational sessions took place.