MAKING IDEAS HAPPEN ANNUAL REPORT 2013 2. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2013 Marlin Miller, Jr. Chairman Berks Business Education Coalition a message from Marlin Miller: Making Ideas Happen The past year was the 23rd year students into a business environment for one that the BBEC worked to add day to focus their thinking on careers and value to Berks County K-12 educa- what companies expect when interviewing tion. As a founding member of the for new employees. Back at school in the organization, it has been gratifying afternoon, representatives from the business to observe the close cooperation community and educators developed conver- of the Coalition and the school sation with the students about the day’s systems in the development of learning experience, and reinforced business programs referenced in this report. expectations. I had the opportunity to lead The basic thrust of the programs one of these conversations with students has been to further our original that had visited EnerSys and came away mission of better preparing stu- quite convinced that students gained a new dents for college and/or careers. It appreciation of what it means to prepare for is difficult to measure the impact a career and work in the business world. of this work, but through the years This past year both Paul Roedel, a past educators have consistently stated president, and recently treasurer of the that having the interest and sup- Coalition, and I decided it was time to retire port of the business community as officers and pass the leadership onto has been very helpful in keeping a others on our board that are currently active focus on career thinking and in the business community. The board preparation. Each year there has elected as officers for 2014, the very capable been very direct feedback from the team of John Weidenhammer as president, 20 or more teachers that have John George to continue as vice president, been directly involved with and Jeffrey Rush as treasurer. business during their summer break. This was the Coalition’s The Coalition would not exist without first program and teachers have the financial and active support of its uniformly expressed that the members, both business and education experience has given them the members, and the dedication of the board of opportunity to better portray the directors. I want to personally thank you for working world to their students. this support and for the opportunity to serve as president for the past several years. The Coalition’s most recent program was developed and executed for the first time in 2013 by our executive director, Dr. Solomon Lausch. This was an ambitious program to get 9th grade Marlin Miller Annual Report 2013 | Berks Business Education Coalition | A Partnership That Works 3. Pennsylvania School Performance Profile Responding to requirements of Act 82 of 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Berks County School Districts Education has developed the Pennsylvania 2012-2013 School Year School Performance Profile (PSPP) for each public school and each publicly SCHOOL DISTRICT ACADEMIC SCORE chartered school in Pennsylvania. The Antietam School District 77.1 PSPP became fully operational in December, 2013. Boyertown Area School District 88.4 The profiles are smartly organized and Brandywine Heights Area School District 80.5 present an array of useful information for Conrad Weiser Area School District 75.8 the interested, discerning reader. The Daniel Boone Area School District 81.7 website is readily accessed (Pennsylvania School Performance Profile) and easy to Exeter Township School District 83.9 navigate. Fleetwood Area School District 82.5 Each school’s profile is presented as a Governor Mifflin School District 86.3 score ranging from 0 to 100. A score of 70 or higher is satisfactory. The score is the Hamburg Area School District 82.7 cumulative calculation of seven weighted I-LEAD Charter School 35.1 indicators. Two indicators, academic achievement and measures of academic Kutztown Area School District 86.6 growth constitute 80% of the score. Other Muhlenberg School District 80.6 indicators, including cohort graduation rate, attendance rate, and a measure of Oley Valley School District 72.4 closing the achievement gap for histori- Reading School District 54.3 cally underperforming students, constitute the remaining 20% of the profile score. Schuylkill Valley School District 86.0 The information at right is for the Tulpehocken Area School District 76.4 18 Berks County school districts and the Twin Valley School District 85.0 I-LEAD Charter School in Reading. The district “academic score” is the mean Wilson School District 89.2 average of the building level scores for Wyomissing Area School District 81.9 each of the schools in the district. Find out more at: paschoolperformance.org 4. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW A Day of Interaction with Business This past September, 4,500 ninth and tenth grade students from 15 of the 18 Berks County public school districts spent a day interacting with businesses. This major On behalf of the Reading Intermediate new BBEC initiative afforded students the High School's family, I want to thank opportunity to learn first hand about area you for such a wonderful program for businesses and, importantly, about the our 9th grade students. The intense factors that employers consider when planning and implementation was evaluating a candidate for employment. worth the effort. We received only positive feedback from students, Each day consisted of three parts: a morn- business representatives, presenters, ing assembly presented under the aegis of and field trip chaperones. It was a Junior Achievement; class size visits to memorable and very informative day Berks County businesses; and an 80- for our 9th grade students. minute afternoon review of the morning’s activities led by a person from the busi- Waldo Alvarado, M.S.Ed. ness and professional community. The Assistant Principal recurring message throughout the day Reading Intermediate High School was the factors that employers look for and evaluate in a candidate. Ninth grade students om Conrad Weiser SD visit UGI as part of a day of interaction with local businesses. Annual Report 2013 | Berks Business Education Coalition | A Partnership That Works 5. Kudos to the many people who FACTORS EMPLOYERS brought their time and energy to CONSIDER WHEN make the day a success: the staff and HIRING volunteers at Junior Achievement; the Greater Reading Economic Partnership School Performance: and Greater Reading Chamber of completion of high school diploma Commerce and Industry; 75 volunteers (indicating successful achievement making more than 100 presentations of an important goal), mastery of basic skills, and participation in to afternoon classes; the administra- extracurricular activities. tors, teachers and counselors in the participating school districts; and the Communication Skills: scores and scores of employees at proper completion of employment 17 businesses who engaged students application, ability to read directly for the site visits. instructions, to listen and understand, to speak and write For many of the students, it was an and be understood. eye-opening experience. The timing Attitude: neat personal was just right; the beginning of the appearance, record of good high school experience as the students attendance, cooperative view are coming to realize that in just a toward shift work and overtime, short three or four years they will be ability to work as part of a team, entering the adult world. and does not use drugs. Brentwood Industries was proud to host 173 ninth and tenth graders continued on page 6 Computer Literacy: background and practice in at our local production facility DAY OF INTERACTION fundamental principles and usage. in September. It was a great PARTICIPATING opportunity to showcase the Previous Work manufacturing that happens right BUSINESSES: Experience: prior work here in Berks County. As students • Alcon Research Ltd. experience and record a plus, toured our facility, we made a point • Brentwood Industries including school-based programs. of discussing attributes that make • Cabela’s Reputation with Current a good employee – in any job. • Carpenter Technology Corporation Employees: others working For Brentwood employees, this • Eagle Brass here may know you, what you program became an unexpected • East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc. can do, and will have to work with and valuable team-building • EnerSys you if you are hired. exercise. Thank you, BBEC, • Met-Ed, A FirstEnergy Company Understanding of for inviting us to participate! • National Penn How and Why a • Penske Truck Leasing Co. Business Operates: We look forward to next • Pottstown Memorial Hospital businesses operate to make a September’s batch of students! • Quadrant EPP USA profit (a good thing), businesses will • Reading Eagle Company continue to exist and to employ Ann Brugger • Reading Health Systems people only as long as their rewards • Sealstrip Corporation are greater than their costs. Brentwood Industries • St. Joseph Medical Center • UGI Energy Services, Inc. 6. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2013 2013 YEAR IN REVIEWcontinued inside BERKS business Again this year, we continued our long standing commitment to the inside Berks I participated in an internship with business (iBb) program. The iBb initiative LYNX Computer Technologies, Inc. in is a partnership between the Coalition Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. I was afforded the opportunity to witness and the Berks County Intermediate Unit. first-hand the This past summer, 23 educators from ten types of skills, school districts benefited from internship collaboration, and technology needed placements at 14 businesses throughout to run a successful Berks County. They represented a diverse business. group, including elementary education, business, technology, mathematics, The staff at LYNX warmly welcomed me into their daily science, English, learning support, routines and allowed me to take part and speech and language, gifted, and school observe their work.