January 22, 2020 Marysville School District
Congressman Rick Larsen visits with students at the Regional Apprenticeship Program
The Regional Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is the first of its kind in North Snohomish County. The focus is to increase economic mobility and to help close the construction skills gap. The program aims to improve access for students to learn trade skills necessary to be job-ready on day one. This will be accomplished through a clear apprenticeship pipeline that can lead to a career in the trades and the ability to earn dual college credit and high school credit equivalencies leading to graduation.
Congressman Rick Larsen made a special visit to the program where he talked with students about the importance of learning skilled trades. He shared with the students that the program paves the way to prepare them for the workforce. He added, “it is essential to be skilled in several areas going into the workforce and a program such as this does just that”. “I am working on raising awareness at the Federal level about the importance of preparing a skilled workforce” he added. The Congressman and the students discussed how jobs have changed over the years and workers need to change with it including being skilled in many areas of the trades so that they can adapt and change with the job market and needs. Students shared that they have been learning from the ground up; building small projects, learning teamwork, how to use the equipment and most importantly, safety. They have built stepping stools, toolboxes, adirondack chairs, and a folding picnic table. Next, they will collaborate with local trade union members to prepare the base for a new sign and begin a large-scale project to construct a cottage home for a family in need.
Teacher, Brian Gahan shared that the students will study the plans, order the materials, and begin construction. The cottage house will be one of 24 in a local housing community. He added that he has been very proud of the students for their accomplishments and their work to prepare a space to hold class while the larger building was cleaned and prepared. “Principal Bromely offered the greenhouse on the campus property as a workspace for the students. They cleared it out, cleaned it up, and built workbenches so they could begin their projects. That in itself was a great learning opportunity in the trades - demolition, clean up to construction”.
Students took the Congressman on a tour of the facility, shared their hopes, dreams, and their plans for their future in trades and talked about the building plans for the cottage house. “We will build it on-site in sections and it will include all components including electricity. It also has a loft and a deck” the students shared.
Students enjoyed visiting with the Congressman including learning about his father’s work in the trades and his own path into politics.
Registration for the program begins in March of 2020. For more information about the program, contact Anne Carnell, program director, at anne_carnell@msd25.org.
See photos of the visit at: https://www.facebook.com/MarysvilleSD/posts/2679586042130419?__tn__=K-R