Collaboration is key to better preparing high school students to succeed in careers and postsecondary education. That was one consensus reached by members of the Region 4 Indiana Works Council, which met for the first time at the Lafayette Caterpillar plant Wednesday afternoon.
The council is one of 11 established by the legislature and Gov. Mike Pence to evaluate existing career and technical education programs, compare those courses to local industry needs, then recommend curricula that will prepare high school students to enter the workforce.
The Region 4 council consists of business, education and workforce development leaders in Tippecanoe and 11 other counties. Pence appointed Sascha Harrell, Caterpillar human relations supervisor, to oversee the council.
“We need to get everyone involved and on the same page,” Harrell said. “We want utilize the resources we have to come up with a better plan to focus on our skills gap and target education to accomplish our goals.”
The discussion flowed from the need to make parents and students more aware of career opportunities in manufacturing to manufacturers doing a better job of identifying the specific skills entry-level employees need.
Doug Mansfield, Kirby Risk president of manufacturing in Lafayette, said he was disappointed when only eight educators attended a summer open house at his plant.
“Collaboration is a key issue, and we have to open our doors more,” Mansfield said. “But I think the kids are being pushed to go to college, and a lot of kids just aren’t exposed to manufacturing jobs.”