Tech School Targets Trades Where Jobs Are

CREST HAVEN – Why train students with skills that will not help them land jobs? There is no longer widespread need for cartwrights or ship chandlers, sail makers or shoemakers. Similarly, there is no sizable job market in Cape May County for legions of carpenters, electricians, or masons.
On the other hand, there seems to be a burgeoning potential for technicians who have know-how to install solar panels, both photovoltaic and water heating, as well as knowledge of how best to link “green” renewable energy to modern homes and products.
That’s where the Cape May County Technical High School seeks to fill future niches in the job market with young people capable of landing a job and “hitting the ground running.”
Some concerned readers contacted the Herald that there appeared to be a change in direction at the school, such as the cessation of carpentry and electrical.
In the past few years, as the nation’s and county’s economy sank lower, construction-related jobs virtually ground to a halt. High school-age students entering the Technical High School, looked around, saw the dismal job prospects in construction trades, and rechanneled their vocational efforts.
“We saw a steady decline of kids entering the (construction-related) field,” said Principal Michael Adams, who has been with the district since 1997. “We said, ‘What is the reason for the decline?’ We talked to members of our advisory council, talked to some graduates about what was happening in heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical.”
“The things that the graduates said they could not get a job,” he added. The situation worsened from 2007 onward. Businesses shuttered, skilled carpenters could not find work. Some electricians who previously hired several crews scaled back to themselves a worker or two.
“Why enter that field if you can’t get a job?” Adams asked rhetorically.
From 2005 to 2011, the school witnessed a rapid decline in students desirous of learning useless skills, at least for the immediate future.
“We got to the point there were four in the program, three classes a day, four total, sophomore, junior and senior,” Adams continued. “We had two students who got accepted into the (carpenter’s) union in the last eight years. Union halls have 200 skilled guys sitting around, so when the kids got wind of that, they lost interest.”
Reality set in, and the district administrators decided it was time for a reevaluation of what was being taught in its building trades, since the outlook in the county was bleak.
Again, using members of its advisory board, members of professions who volunteer their time to offer guidance as to what their industries need for the future, the district saw the horizon was changing.
Looking around, the district saw a growing market here for HVAC, (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) workers.
“They can get jobs,” said Adams. “They can come out of high school, and with some extra training by their company, they are ready to go.” He noted the switch to geothermal heating (which uses pumps to use ground water to heat and cool structures) solar panels, and wind energy
“We need to get kids able to be trained so they can pursue schooling and get a job. To that end, we have converted our traditional classes in electrical and plumbing into HVAC,” Adams said.
“We hired an exciting teacher, Craig Migliaccio to teach the course in HVAC and sustainable energy. He has a background in solar installation, hot water and photovoltaic,” said Adams.
“Our intention is to modernize that vocational program and make it work where there are jobs, so when the kids get out of here, they can get a job,” he continued.
“Everything we are doing, we are trying to figure what is going to help keep kids here in Cape May County to make a living and finding work. Our goal is to sustain our own community,” he said.
When the district renovated and expanded about 10 years ago, it included a masonry classroom, because it learned from area masons they needed skilled young workers.
The class is “doing pretty well,” according to Adams. Two of its graduates have landed seats in Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, Media, Pa. There, they will polish their basic training begun in the county, and, according to that school’s website, “…learn the elements of other trowel trades, including stonework, concrete, glass block, stucco, and plaster.”
Taught by Christopher Kane, the three-year course teaches students the basics of the trade. Students learn first the value of construction of an arch. They also learn how to create steps; even make a kiln that was used in a multi-disciplinary cooking event.
Still, in Cape May County, young masons find competition from many skilled immigrant workers, many from Central America, Mexico, South America or Costa Rica, “Which has tremendous skilled laborers coming into this country,” said Adams.
“It’s hard for kids to break into the field,” said Adams, but for those who are determined, the future can be created one brick at a time.
“It’s a new program,” said Adams. Thus, it takes time for student interest to blossom. This year, “There is a good group of kids,” he said.
“We are reevaluating the carpentry program to determine what vocational program to put in place there that will give the best opportunity to have kids get employed in our county and stay in our county,” said Adams.
“We are bouncing ideas around,” he added.
The traditional carpentry program was simply “not inviting to kids,” he noted. “It just does not seem to fill a need.”
As if the district needed more numbers to justify its decision, Adams pointed to a recent Workforce Investment Board document that could dash hopes of many young potential construction workers:
On its “Demand Occupations List,” the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development has listed as “In Demand – No” to construction laborers, drywall and ceiling tile installed, tapers, insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall, and mechanical, roofers, helpers for carpenters, roofers, other construction trades, carpenters and their helpers.
“There is no sense training for jobs that do not exist,” he restated. “It is a waste of their (students’) time, taxpayers’ money and a great resource. We have to focus on programs where kids can get jobs.”
Among the fields at the vocational school whose graduates find almost immediate employment are those from cosmetology, welding, automotive, food production and culinary arts and natural science.
Amazing, too is the field of entertainment production to work in a studio.
“One graduate got a job in Los Angeles. He sent them a tape and they hired him. Now they are sending him to school to learn more skills,” said Adams.
Those graduates who are more academically oriented include those in pre-engineering and allied medical fields. “They are not coming out of high school and getting a job. They have to do a great deal of post-secondary training,” Adams continued, “But the basics are there, and they know how to learn.”
While Adams does not oversee the district’s adult evening programs, he said there is a continuing interest by those who want to learn how to take care of their car, welding, as well as standby classes like dog obedience and ballroom dancing. The latter are considered “for enrichment” and remain a “very important part of the evening division.”
Adams wondered aloud about articles that state “Everyone should go to college.”
“There needs to be additional training, to be educated and prepared, but don’t shy away from post-secondary or challenges for jobs,” he said.
As the school year draws close to its end, eyes of potential freshmen continue to turn to the school.
While the district draws revenue from the county, it can only seat about 550 students.
For that reason, admission tests are given to about 250 eighth graders countywide. Of those, the incoming freshman class will range from 150-160 students. That test gauges whether the student is up to grade level. Other factors that are considered for placement include a student’s work ethic in school and their discipline.
Test scores are “all defined by the Civil Rights Act of 1968,” said Adams. That law sets guidelines for entrance into vocational technical schools.
“When the freeholders did an expansion several years ago, that expanded opportunity for many kids,” said Adams. “We would love to be able to give more kids an opportunity, but we are limited by the number of seats in the school.”
If new industry were to locate in Cape May County, Adams said the school would be anxious to learn what it could do to train potential employees of that industry.
He cited vocational schools in the Chicago, Ill. area that maximize training in financial and office management for the companies in the vicinity as well as culinary arts for its restaurants and hotels.
“There are no carpentry classes in Chicago, because there is a need for office and financial workers. If we had major employers like that, we could tailor programs for those employers,” he added.
“Cape May County needs clean manufacturing and distribution jobs. Whatever employers need, we have an opportunity to look at and find state and federally-approved programs and then find money to put it all together,” said Adams.
He again cited Migliaccio’s HVAC course. “This is where people can get jobs,” Adams concluded.