Workforce Connections Information Item

DATE:	Tuesday, May 7, 2019
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Recognition of Hillsborough County Public Schools Partnership with Career Source Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners to Establish the Summer Youth Employment Program (Workforce Connections)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Career Source of Tampa Bay is partnering with Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to launch a paid Summer Youth Employment Program entitled, Young Talent Tampa Bay-Summer Job Connection.  The hope is to invest in this community’s youth by providing students with employment opportunities that will include both educational and workforce skill building to enhance each student’s future workplace success. The realization of this project is reliant upon the strength of this futuristic, innovative, partnership between local government, private industry, and education. The School District will help to recruit and match talented students to employers based on the student’s employment interests, certifications, and completed coursework. Career Source of Tampa Bay will directly fund 400 youth jobs and Hillsborough County Government will provide the project with $150,000 in funding to serve 100 additional youth creating a total of 500 summer jobs.  Youth summer employment will strengthen youth and the community as it gives our students an opportunity to positively work, engage, learn and develop their employability skills as they earn a paycheck during the summer months.   The program application launched on April 1, 2019. The youth participants will be hired as employees of Career Source and be placed in positions within local government, private, and nonprofit industries. The School District will take on approximately 100 student youth workers who will be assigned to multiple sites throughout the county. All youth will be paid $11 an hour and work 24 hours per week for the duration of the 6 week program. Career Source of Tampa Bay will also hire educators as employment counselors and job coaches to provide students with pre-employment workshops, ongoing employment skill based training and support structures at each worksite to improve each youth’s ability to be successful in future workplace, college, and/or career training environments.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
This item is for recognition and has no financial impact to the district.
EVALUATION
The program will be evaluated based on the number of students who accept positions and complete the 6 week Summer Youth Employment Program.
SUBMITTED BY:  Christopher Jargo, Director, Career and Technical Education

Michael Ramsey		Warren S. Brooks
General Director, Career, Technical, and Adult Education (813) 231-1860		Workforce Connections Officer (813) 231-1860
		A 02
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20190507_923 (Board Meeting followed by Public Hearing) * Section A Item# 02