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The Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education is continuing its partnership with Jamestown Community College at the Innovation Center at Rogers School.
Board members unanimously approved an agreement during its most recent board meeting with the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier and JCC's Workforce Development division to provide adult education programming in carpentry at the facility. Classes are scheduled to take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday evenings from Aug. 3 through Sept. 1.
"That program began at the end of the 2024-25 school year, and we are excited to see it continue under the instruction of JHS technology teacher Daryl Damcott," said Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent. "This partnership, like another one we have with JCC, and another one with the flight school at the airport is an example of how we envision the Innovation Center serving both our students and the broader community. As the center continues to develop, and through partnerships with local manufacturing and other businesses, we are working to build even more programs that connect hands-on instruction with the skills and employment opportunities available throughout our region."
Established in 2023, the Innovation Center at R.R. Rogers School has served as an extension of Jamestown High School's technology programs, including its aviation and carpentry courses. The district is expanding the Innovation Center into a comprehensive career exploration hub where students will connect with local industries, explore high-demand careers, and participate in hands-on learning experiences, mentorships, job shadowing, and apprenticeships.
The Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education has approved the appointment of Nicole Marino to serve as the new assistant principal of the Innovation Center as well as its program administrator. The appointment will play a role in expanding the Innovation Center's offerings in the future.
"We are incredibly excited to see the Innovation Center continue to develop," Whitaker said. "With Nicole Marino now serving as a program administrator after being appointed the center's assistant principal, we have greater capacity to move this work forward and continue building strong relationships with our community partners. Building on our existing aviation, welding and construction pathways, Nicole and I have continued meeting this summer with local manufacturers and employers, including El Greco and Blackstone, to better understand the opportunities available in our region and discuss how our programming can help prepare students for them. There is a great deal of momentum surrounding the center, and we are excited about what these partnerships can mean for our students. In addition to the Builder's Exchange, we'd like to specifically thank the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier for being such valued partners in this work."
When the Innovation Center at R.R. Rogers School, district officials said students across all grade levels will have the chance to be introduced to several industries that could include biomedical, manufacturing, welding, construction, coding, robotics and aviation. Student exposure to different careers can begin at the late elementary level and end with partnerships and internships toward the end of high school.
That vision hasn't changed, Whitaker said. It will be a place where students can discover a wider range of career fields as well as a place to help students better understand how their interests and talents connect to opportunities available in the region for a career after high school.
"At the middle school level, the programming will be largely exploratory, giving students exposure to different careers, technologies and skills before they enter high school," Whitaker said. "For high school students, the center will offer practical electives and pathway coursework, with more focused learning experiences that complement their traditional coursework. We hope to open pathways to mentorship and apprenticeships for older high school students as well. The goal is not to place students into a single career path at an early age. It is to help them discover their interests, build confidence and graduate with a clearer understanding of the educational and career pathways available to them."
In other business, board members unanimously agreed to create five teaching assistant positions.