Business, school leaders form council to improve work force

Missy Marshall defines success as a time when employers no longer come to her, as Sikeston, Mo., Chamber of Commerce executive director, saying they can't find anyone to fill a job. Businesswoman Kathy Swan says it will be when graduation rates increase, college remedial rates decrease and skilled graduates remain in the area to work.

Simply talking about education or work-force problems will no longer suffice, they say.

The two women joined about 50 businesspeople, superintendents, politicians and community activists to form a partnership Wednesday. The group has dubbed itself the "Business-Education Network of Southeast Missouri."

Its goal is to better prepare students for the work force. That includes ensuring students can "seamlessly" pass through high school to college. It includes asking employers what skills — both academic and "soft" — students need, so current deficiencies are eliminated. And it means getting businesses more involved in education through mentoring, internships or the sharing of best practices.

"It's about creating a better work force. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we can't afford to have a large population unemployed or unskilled," said Rick McClard, the former principal of Jackson High School.

The group is modeled after a "P-20" or "P-16" council, which stands for educating a child from preschool through college or beyond. Such P-20 or P-16 councils are becoming buzzwords in education, and many are being placed in the forefront of education reform. Thirty-eight states now have such a council; Missouri formed one in 2006 and is only one of nine states with local or regional councils.

While in vogue, reports of these groups' success are limited. The teachers' magazine Education Week reported in a June article that some councils set their goals too broad, lose focus or don't extend beyond discussion.

Southeast Missouri leaders stressed Wednesday they could not allow this to happen.

"So many times we just talk. We hope to start moving so we can get some things done," said McClard, who recently became assistant manager of the WIRED Initiative, which has many of the same goals as a P-20 council.

WIRED stands for Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development, and is sponsored by the Department of Labor. The WIRED Initiative will funnel $5 million into the region through a three-year grant. The Business-Education Network formed Wednesday will ensure sustainability of partnerships, said Janet Witter, manager of the WIRED Initiative.

The network plans to review previous studies about workforce and educational needs, and develop a new "needs inventory" to be compiled by Oct. 1. It also hopes to attract more school and business leaders to its group.

Rob Huff, superintendent of the Meadow Heights School District, and Steve McPheeters, superintendent of communication, training and development for Noranda Aluminum, will serve as co-chairmen.

Swan, who serves on the state P-20 council, said the regional group is not out to reinvent the wheel. Rather, she said, it will focus on networking and linking resources. "It's about communication, and it's about time," she said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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