By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Continuing part of the WAGE program Bucyrus eighth grade students had a post-manufacturing tour debriefing Tuesday.
The students met with Arctic Cat Facility Manager Ken Auck, Bucyrus City Schools Superintendent Kevin Kimmel, and eighth grade teacher Felicia Ervin. Auck reviewed with the students what they had taken away from Thursday’s tours of the Crossroads Industrial Park facilities.
Topics included the difference between manufacturing and distribution, why employees should show up to their job on time, safety in the manufacturing and distribution environment, promoting a drug free work place, as well as the numerous jobs and opportunities for advancement within the companies.
“We are hoping we can educate them a little bit, let them know that there are jobs out there in Crawford County, and that college isn’t always the course that they need to go.” Auck explained.
Auck explained to the students that the one thing that can make or break a call back from him is a criminal record.
Bucyrus Superintendent Kevin Kimmel sat in on the sessions, and during the first period broke down the income with a first year employee would make $22,000 and within the second year be making $27,000 with 100-percent attendance at Arctic Cat.
Kimmel explained to the students that a lot of companies will offer education reimbursements for good grades in college while working at the same time, on top of benefits such as insurance, and 401k plans.
Kimmel also explained to the kids that a lot of what applies to them in school now will also apply to them when they get out of school.
“What we also hope they take out of it is to see the correlation of success in the work place and what type of success they are having in school,” Kimmel said. “So issues like attendance, being drug free, being responsible, being respectful, being held accountable, those things are going to make you successful in school are a direct correlation of what will make you successful in the workplace.”
Eighth grade teacher Felicia Ervin explained that the tour was a great experience for the students.
“It was a real eye opener for them. I think it was an excellent experience for them to see what happens inside the walls. A lot of it is how similar perhaps it is to school life. You have to attend every day or you suffer consequences,” Ervin said. “Different kids took different things away from each manufacturing facility, but once I got to talking with them I found out that they enjoyed it more than they original thought they would. It was a really good experience for them.”
WAGE is the acronym for Workforce Awareness for Graduates and Educators. The program was developed by Crawford: 20/20 Vision’s Business Success and Job Availability Action team.
The Bucyrus City School District agreed to take part in the pilot program and the Wynford school district is committed to taking part next year. The goal of the program is to involve all Crawford County school districts.