Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker gives a presentation Tuesday about the Innovation Center at Rogers School. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Trade occupations open doors for students.

That’s what Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said about the Innovation Center at Rogers School. Whitaker gave an update recently on the center to the JPS Board of Education.

Whitaker noted that there are many careers for students, but the students aren’t aware of the careers.

Whitaker said the center can be a conduit to help fill the workforce gap in trade occupations, and the center can introduce students to those jobs earlier. The center, he added, also will be a feeder program for BOCES.

The program will be housed in the second floor, and will be a place where students can explore careers.

“We’re going to help our kids find work in the trades, or at least have the ability to understand what trades are available to them, and maybe most importantly, land apprenticeships, mentorships and shadowing opportunities so that they can get a sense of what these positions are,” Whitaker said.

The superintendent noted that if a student decides that a trade is not for him or her, the student has the opportunity to change and figure out other opportunities.

“So the idea is to explore careers, experience careers, and then execute on what they finally determined is going to be the thing that they want to do,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker noted that there is a growing demand for skilled trade positions.

Employment in construction and extraction occupations is expected to grow faster than average from 2023 to 2033, with about 663,500 job openings each year due to growth and worker replacement, he noted.

The superintendent explained that in late elementary school, fifth and sixth graders may go on field trips, and then middle schoolers may visit the center, and begin foundation courses. In high school, students will continue foundation courses at the center while attending job site experiences, and shadowing opportunities.

Whitaker noted that some schools have already begun similar programs including Warren, Pa. Career Center, Brooklyn STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), New York City school for construction trades, Lancaster Skilled Trades Academy, and the Alden Schools Bulldog Manufacturing.

Whitaker also noted that the center will be closely aligned with Jamestown Community College’s Manufacturing Institute where students can study CNC machining, engineering and physics, industrial maintenance, mechanical design, and welding.