LM Jan 2023_hi

Mattoon ... cont’d.

Facility Sales Tax to pay off debt, mixed with grants, local funds and donations. In addition, the district had to budget for hiring additional staff. Four of the seven people who work at LIFT were existing employees who could be shuffled around. The other three came directly from the trades. According to Hild, the district assisted with the costs associated with securing an alternative licensure from the state and any other necessary training the LIFT employees needed. To help them succeed in the classroom, the district paired them with an instructional coach. Mattoon CUSD #2 is a Tier 1 district funded at 68 percent of adequacy. The district has a $44 million operating budget. “We told them you are exactly what we need from an industry standpoint, and we want to help you learn how to teach kids,” Hild said. “We have made that investment in them.” DesigningEducationPathways Before LIFT could open its doors, there were major challenges from an educational and operational standpoint for administration to work through. LIFT would have seven education pathways, which were selected based on community input. Each pathway is aligned to jobs in the area as well as employment forecasts, designed with potential for ISBE-approved college and career pathway endorsements. The pathways are: • Childcare • Communications • Culinary arts • HVAC/Green energy/Robotics • Information Technology • Leadership Institute • Manufacturing, Architecture and Construction Hild was tasked with developing the curriculum for each pathway. Since Mattoon CUSD #2 offers a competency based education program, required content can be embedded into a variety of classes, she added.

ClickHere toReadLIFTProgramGuide2022–23: https://www.iasaedu.org/cms/lib/IL01923163/Centricity/ Domain/4/LIFT%20Program%20Guide%20PDF.pdf

What separates LIFT from other vocational centers, however, is its focus on leadership training. LIFT is a Franklin Covey partner and has adopted the Leader in Me platform, an evidence-based approach that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. “The one constant in each pathway is the focus on leadership skills,” Hild said. “Every student takes classes on the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People . Part of the reason for that is our employers told us they can train someone to run a piece of equipment, but they can’t train someone to have a good work ethic.” Operationally, Mattoon CUSD #2 elected to have three sessions of LIFT each day that are two hours long. Students from neighboring districts are either transported by bus or drive themselves. Each student, or the district on their behalf, pays a $1,000 tuition. Scholarships are offered to offset the cost. “We’re still in the early stages right now, but our goal moving forward is to lower the program cost and find ways to remove barriers to participation,” Hild said.

6 LM January 2023