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Scarnati Calls Hearing to Discuss Workforce Development Issues - Job Growth Number One PriorityWARREN- State Senator Joe Scarnati, Chairman of the Senate Policy Committee called a hearing Wednesday in DuBois to further discuss the job industry across the 25th district. Scarnati's objective was to gather information from area business leaders who not only wish to promote job expansion, but hope to sustain more meaningful employment for workers. "Over the summer I met with several business owners and workers across my district and heard the same demand, provide tools to create a more qualified workforce in our area," said Scarnati. "This hearing was about bringing a variety of ideas collectively into one room so individuals can not only speak their views, but walk away with ideas for attainable goals." Robert Howard, General Manager of Phoenix Sintered Metals, Inc. in Brockway was one testifier. "Since on the job training provides the majority of productivity improvement, it is vital that we increase and concentrate our resources in providing training to our incumbent workers," said Howard. "We need to invest more in our present employees who are our "most important asset." Scarnati asked where most Phoenix employees have come from and what their skill levels are. Howard said most employees are from a former company in Brockway that went bankrupt, and other employees travel to work from the Ridgway and the Johnsonburg areas. "All of those employees are good, hardworking people," said Howard. "Everything is fine, but we need to constantly work to upgrade their skill level. Not that they are not skilled now, but you have to be on the cutting edge of technology or we are going to be left behind." Sharon Drukenbrod, Human Resource Manager for Miller Welding in Brookville also testified, saying she believes work ethic is being lost from generation to generation. "Our belief is that sometimes the high schools promote that loss of work ethic in their attendance policies, in some of the things they are requiring from their students," said Drukenbrod. Another Senator at the hearing, John Gordner said, "I know that some schools in my area require job shadowing or career vocation exploration for graduation. I am wondering if that is happening around here and whether you have opportunities for seniors in high school to work part-time at your facility to hopefully get a foot in the door." "I have been involved with DuBois Area School District for the last four years for what they call BUS day---Business United with Schools," responded Drukenbrod. "Hundreds of employers go into the schools and talk to different grade levels about what it is that we expect as employers. But you can only take so much to a classroom. We need to do a better job educating not only students, but also parents, in what manufacturing is." Senator Jake Corman then questioned, "I sit on the PHEAA board and you mentioned earlier about available grants. Is it difficult for area technical schools to get grants or loans?" "I do know that one of the things we would like to see is high school students who come from middle class families or even from some of the bigger schools and who are the brightest students who are not having to worry about finances, to go into a technical field," said Drukenbrod. Scarnati also posed the question as to why 25 percent of the Miller Welding workforce is not showing up for work. "We have filtered out about 17 percent of our applicants before they 'got past go' because they tested positive in drug screens," said Drukenbrod. She added, "There is a problem in this area and we are trying to get a handle on that problem. However, three days with no-call no-shows and they are automatically terminated. However, when I don't show up for high school [what action is taken?]. I mean what are the ramifications?" Barnett Knorr, Director of Jeff Tech in Reynoldsville and James Nelson, Director of North Central Industrial Education Center (ITEC) in Ridgway also testified on behalf of technical training schools. "We really need to change the public perception of what you do and how you do it and you have done a remarkable job of moving that forward," Scarnati said to Knorr. Nelson then said they had a student who received his training skills in machining at Jeff Tech and then came to ITEC for his associate's degree in Specialized Technology. He said this was a great help because this young man already had a foundation upon which to build. In closing, Michael Lawrence, the Workforce Development Director at the North Central Workforce Investment Board in Ridgway thanked the Senate for their support and funding of "Job Ready PA", which is an effort to train and educate divisions of the state. He also reminded everyone that efforts have to be continuous. "Among the challenges is the expansion of Work Readiness Skills Standards, the alignment of educational resources and expanding and understanding the demographics of the labor force that confront us," said Lawrence. Senator Gordner wanted to know more specifically how the Job Ready PA program is working. "What they have done in Job Ready PA is basically to say to the local workforce investment board, you make these critical decisions because you are the one closest to the ground on what works," said Lawrence."So we take that money and put it into the sectors that we need to and we use our current providers like ITEC and Jeff Tech to do that." Scarnati thanked the Senators, members of the committee and testifiers and promised their message did not go unheard, as he reminded members and presenters that rural districts face many obstacles other areas do not. "We are faced with the constant battle of location," said Scarnati."Bringing jobs, enhanced training, and the proper teaching tools to our rural area are problems many urban districts do not encounter. By understanding our intentions and keeping in mind that we cannot compare ourselves to other districts, we are helping to ensure additional family sustaining jobs in this part of Pennsylvania."
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