Officials: Shik co-op program a success

Francis Scarcella, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·1 min read

Apr. 11—SUNBURY — A newly established cooperative education program inside the Shikellamy School District is working, according to the program director Lisa Pfleegor.

Pfleegor and several students currently in the program spoke to the school board Thursday about the success of the program which was reintroduced to the district last year.

Alexis Cox, 17, is working at Nottingham Village, in Northumberland, and loving the program and job.

"I learned so much," she said. "Plus I am getting paid."

Pfleegor said there are currently 14 students in the program.

Superintendent Jason Bendle said the Cooperative Education Program also known as Diversified Occupations, was reintroduced as a way to get students real world experiences.

Pfleegor said she continues to work with local businesses to form relationships with them to take senior students on for work-based learning experiences.

Per the program requirements, students need to complete 720 hours of coursework and work experience for the program. Students were told, in order to receive high school credits toward graduation, they will need to work at their work-based learning experience for a minimum of four hours a day during the week.

The board also approved the spending of $351,240 through the capital reserve fund to purchase 1,000 Chromebooks for the district.