Steve Bialorucki, Director of Career, Technical and Adult Education for the Oregon City Schools, provided testimony to the Ohio House of Representatives Workforce Development Study Committee on the campus of Bowling Green State University on the morning of October 3, 2011. 

As the testimony concluded, several questions were asked.  They are listed below:

Rep. Nancy Garland; “Are our Career & Tech graduates are leaving the state?” 

Mr. Bialorucki answered quickly; “Over 90% of Career & Tech graduates remain in our local economy to find gainful employment and contribute to the local tax base. 

Rep. Nan Baker; “How do you provide a path to employment?” 

Mr. Bialorucki; “The programs are provided with guidelines from the Ohio Department of Education and administered locally by the local schools.  We have local advisory committees for each program offered.  These businessmen and women provide us with information on what they need in a valued employee.  We take that information and implement it in the classroom while still following the Ohio Department of Education guidelines.” 

Rep Nan Baker; “The state legislature wants to make it easier for you to provide a path to employment.  I like the customized efforts of CTE.  We want businesses to have a stronger partnership.  Let us know if there are things we can do.”

Rep. Adams; “This is about the allocation of scarce resources.  How do you see your program fitting into the Higher Ed pipeline?

Mr. Bialorucki; “We work with colleges to have articulated credits for our programs.  Program completers do not have to re-take the same courses at the college level that were mastered in our high schools.

Rep. Adams; Is the partnership with ODE was working to address skilled labor? 

Mr. Bialorucki; The programs provided at the local level are relevant to the local economy and local hiring practices.  We work to provide a solid foundation for the skilled trades as well as those students wanting to pursue post-secondary education. 

Representative Adams asked about working with the Ohio Board of Regents.  Mr. Bialorucki replied by stating that Career Tech Schools work together to provide a pathway to both college and career.  Over 75% of Oregon career & tech graduates go directly to Owens Community College.  These students enter associate degree programs as well as apprenticeship programs offered at that location.  In addition, another 5-10% attend four year institutions such as the University of Toledo and BGSU.  As funding becomes scarce, these types of relationships are more and more valuable to students, parents and our partner institutions.