McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education Monday heard a presentation on a program that could help address local workforce needs. The SME Education Foundation, part of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, has developed a program known as SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education), which provides customized career and technical education training in high schools.
McPherson Industrial Development Company executive director Kasi Morales said SME PRIME was brought to her attention by a local industry, and for about the last year or so she’s been in discussions with the foundation, which have also included other industries in the community.
Director of Institutional Giving Christian Jensen said in visiting with local manufacturers and others he feels McPherson could really benefit from SME PRIME. “You’ve got a lot of enthusiasm from district leadership and (USD 418 Superintendent Shiloh) Vincent, you’ve got a lot of enthusiasm from the manufacturing community, and quite frankly a lot of pent-up demand for manufacturing talent, especially skilled manufacturing.”
SME Director of Education Programs Dr. Shelley Wooley said SME PRIME is currently serving 12,000 students in 25 states, and when they come into a school, they bring a body of resources to support manufacturing and engineering education in support of four pathways of education.
The curriculum plan is written over four years, but that can be flexible depending on local needs, with some schools using a three-year plan, others a two-year plan. “We’re not in the business of telling teachers what to teach or how to teach it. What we’re in the business of doing as SME, is bringing the resources to educators that we have heard they need.”
One example of a first-year program deals with precision measurements, which Dr. Wooley said is very important. “Every one of these different measurement instruments has an industry-recognized credential that goes with it. 14 year olds are learning how to measure, and they are earning an industry-recognized certification.” The importance of this is a manufacturer in the southeast indicated they would be willing to offer $60,000 a year positions to a person with this certification even if they haven’t completed high school.
The program provides in addition to curriculum materials the equipment needed for it. It also is highly flexible in that it can start small and build upon that going forward. Through the program Dr.Wooley said they are positively impacting not only student success, but also the success of the school as it relates to the state and to community partners.
Morales told the board she and Dr. Wooley met last week with CTE teachers at McPherson High School and they were very receptive to the program. “They had questions about how it ties into state standards, but Shelly did a great job of easing their concerns, but they seem excited about the program.”
MIDC board chair Dawn Loving told the board in that role she interfaces with many local manufacturers and the thing they all say is they need workers, which SME PRIME can help address. “If we can save one child and introduce them to the possibilities of living and working and staying in McPherson, we’ve been a success.” Loving added local manufacturers have been very supportive of the concept, and also expressed a desire to have families involved with this as well.
Dr Vincent said this is an ongoing discussion with many things still under discussion. This will be brought back to the Board as it develops.
