---

A host of local officials took a field trip to North Branch Area High School  last week.  Community economic development leaders were invited to familiarize themselves with what’s going on in today’s public school experience. There were North Branch Mayor Jim Swenson and Carla Vita representing the city. Jim Stein, Chisago County HRA/EDA Chair attended. School Board member Sara Grovender was also there.

They learned that if you walked into the fabrication lab at Century College in White Bear Lake, it would look a lot like what North Branch High School has to offer. 

They learned students can take high school classes like Intro to Manufacturing Careers, or “How to make almost anything.”

Automotive class is super popular.  There’s  manufacturing stations coming together over this summer equipped with machines that actual manufacturing plants are using now.  The school has even tapped its director of buildings and grounds to be an instructor in the master welder class.

Principal Coleman McDonough said one of the considerations behind the high school moving to its new schedule structure of 85 minute classes covering four topics one day with time for four other topics the second day—  was to give students a longer block of time in one place. The less rushed days will lend themselves to  all sorts of vocational experiences.

Andersen Windows, Rosenbauer, Trane, Wyoming Machine, Regal, Anderson Koch Ford and North Branch Chevrolet are some of the names that are helping give life to a new career centered program at North Branch Area High School.  

Pine Technical College and Century also are playing a huge role in making sure all the instructional boxes are being checked so credits are fully transferrable for secondary enrollment.  A welding course can even earn the student enough credits for pursuing a (Bemidji State) four-year degree if that’s what they decide is needed, after starting on an AA degree.

Treichel told the visitors it has been a nice surprise how well  credits alignments are being worked out.  Superintendent Sara Paul called it a “gold star” format for achieving useful credits.

North Branch brought a career navigator on-board using an Office of Labor & Industry grant to help make all this run smoothly.  She will work with interested businesses and steer students into the correct choices. Casey Cesafsky  will also schedule speakers on skills areas in demand,  and be the connection with the Youth Service Training division in the state Dept. of Employment and Economic Development.  Businesses interested in learning more about future participation in the North Branch program should be getting in touch with her.

Principal McDonough said he envisions the entry level student getting to visit various businesses they might not even know exist locally. The kids who stay with the program might job shadow next or intern. There could be paid positions eventually.

Mayor Swenson said he is always promoting trades careers for North Branch kids. He said it’s a good living and not everyone is ct out for a four year white collar career path.  Local grads who stay in the area attract new business development that seeks a workforce.

Carla Vita added that it is estimated if 10 percent of a graduating class is retained as local residents it makes for a strong economy and community.  “The city and schools need to keep working together building a foundation for the future,” she commented.

Principal McDonough noted that even if the students do not go into manufacturing or trades they will learn “real world skills” in these classes.

Supt. Paul told the tour participants the deeper aspect of these course expansions is that students find topics they can get excited about.  If they have one class they can’t wait to get to the rest of the school day is not such a drag.

“A lot of listening has been happening this year,” Supt. Paul continued. Students got involved in creating “trade school math” for example— where principles of traditional math lessons were tweaked to be applicable to  more vocational uses.

McDonough says “There’s a ton of room to expand.”  There’s the medical sector and much more that the North Branch business community has to offer.

However, first the school wants to develop the existing program into a finely run product that can easily work in new sectors,  and it must grow slowly and deliberately.  He is more than happy to promote what’s taking place and give talks and tours.

---