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25 YEARS OF MAKING IDEAS HAPPEN 1992 –2016 Twenty-five years ago, the Berks Business Education Coalition was formed as a partnership of education and business leaders with a mission to collectively support initiatives that would improve the competencies of students attending public schools in Berks County.

It is gratifying to note the many successful initiatives implemented by the Coalition during the past 25 years that have provided support for schools and motivation for students.

Looking ahead in this fast changing world, a continuing commitment to the original mission of the Coalition remains as critical today, as it was 25 years ago.

Paul Roedel , founding member of BBEC

2016 ANNUAL REPORT 2. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2016

25 YEARS OF MAKI

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT John P. Weidenhammer Chairman, Berks Business Education Coalition

This year we celebrate 25 years since the founding of our organization. The Berks Business Education Coalition (BBEC) came about in 1992 as leaders within the Berks MISSION: County business and education communities correctly The mission of the Berks Business saw the need for an organization dedicated to collabora - Education Coalition is to develop and tion among leaders in education and business. to coordinate programs within the business and education communities Then, as now, the mission focuses strongly on ways to which improve the competencies of enhance the career awareness and the aspirations of Berks County’s students. We have promoted initiatives students and ensure that they have the to raise the academic standards for students, to foster aspirations, skills, and knowledge to preparedness for meaningful employment or higher plan appropriately for their lives after education directly after high school, and to reinforce the high school. “soft skills” that employers value in successful employees. The mission set forth 25 years ago continues today. GOALS: We are particularly focused on the needs of those stu - 1. Promote career awareness and dents in our community that are at risk. As we set our development programs for path for the next 25 years, we realize also the critical students in Berks County. need to prepare all children, especially at the earliest Pre-K levels, with the cognitive and social foundations 2. Support member schools in the that undergird all further learning success. effort to improve basic academic We are grateful for the vision of community leaders performance. 25 years ago that led to the formation of the Berks Business Education Coalition. Moreover, we cannot 3. Promote appropriate, differentiated thank sufficiently all of those that have supported interest in pursuit of post secondary the BBEC to achieve this landmark anniversary both education. financially and through their efforts. Reading this report you will learn a bit more of our 4. Facilitate continuing dialogue history, equally you will see that we are committed to between, with, and among sustained results and to advocacy for the resources that K-12 and higher education. allow for those results to be realized.

5. Provide for the viability and John P. Weidenhammer sustainability of Coalition programs and services. Annual Report 2016 | Berks Business Education Coalition | A Partnership That Works 3.

ING IDEAS HAPPEN

1992 – 1993 1996 – 1997 2000 – 2002 BBEC formally organized. Job Incentives ’97 program. Career Pathways website developed Project 2000 Plus adopted Teacher visits to businesses. to promote career pathways to for guiding set of principles. parents, students, and educators.

1994 – 1995 1998 – 1999 2003 – 2005 Learning for the 21st Century. Licensing for 25,000 School to Work . Workplace High Schools that work. students to access learning as important high quality, virtual component of curriculum. curriculum , grades 8-12. Career resource guidelines available to all Berks County school districts.

Founding Board (om le to right): Charles Sullivan, Dr. Frederick H. Gaige, Robert J. Lesko, Dr. James S. Goodhart, Fred D. Hafer, Paul R. Roedel, Marlin Miller, Jr., Rhoda E. Dersh, John F. Horrigan, Jr., Dr. Roger S. Hertz, and Rolf D. Schmidt.

2006 – 2007 201 0 – 201 2 Career Cruising, a web-based career and college Elementary School Planner Booklets for career education. search tool provided to all school districts. High school and college faculty dialogue.

Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funds Eduplanet 21 to support academic improvement initiatives. insideBerksbusiness (iBb) , a five-day learning experience for educators.

2008 – 2009 201 3 – 201 6 BerksWorks , a web-based tool to connect students with insideBerksbusiness (iBb), Higher Education employers for internships and other workplace experiences. Campus Visits, Students Interacting with Business programs across all districts SAS in School, Curriculum Pathways . Career exploration work-based internship EITC funding to support school-based curriculum initiatives . programs in 9 of 18 school districts

Middle School Planner Booklets for career education. Advocacy for early childhood (Pre-K) education 4. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2016

25 YEARS OF MAK

Our thanks to participating businesses and organizations and the educators assigned to them: In partnership with the Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP | Berks County Intermediate Unit, Lindsay Gerhart, GMSD the Berks Business Education Berks County Conservation District | Coalition placed 27 Berks County Samantha Bolles, TASD educators at 18 participating businesses and organizations Brentwood Industries, Inc. | Mille Bross, TASD + Emily Hershey, WSD for one week this past summer. The educators gained direct East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc. | insight into the culture, Zachary Duncan, RSD + Jerry Galczynski, BCTC + Michelle Klusewitz, ETSD + expectations, and employment Christine Woronko, GMSD opportunities at that business Greater Reading Convention and Visitors or organization and developed Bureau | Alyssa Demitis, TVSD teaching materials to be used with their students Hawk Mountain Sanctuary | Rob Bekesy, BASD + Suzy Hoffman, BASD in the classroom. + Corriann Myers, SVSD Liberty Environmental, Inc. | Michelle Ehrhart, RSD Met-Ed, A FirstEnergy Company | Rebecca Donahue, CWASD + Mary Jo Kuhwald, BCTC Nolde Forest | Christopher Hartman, DBASD + Joel Kleinspehn, SVSD Opportunity House | Samantha Moore, WSD PA German Cultural Heritage Center | Amy Kochel, TVSD | Jennifer Muriel, OVSD | Michael Culbert, TVSD Reading Health System | Gregory Durland, WSD + Rachel Smith, TVSD Weidenhammer Systems Corporation | Tom Sweet, DBASD White Star Tours & Travel Center | Kaitlin Tackels, WSD Wyomissing Animal Hospital | Teresa McCarthy, HASD YMCA | Cindy Cockrum, WSD Annual Report 2016 | Berks Business Education Coalition | A Partnership That Works 5.

KING IDEAS HAPPEN

The businesses put their heart and soul into the program. We are indebted to them. Participating in 2016 were:

Alcon Research, Ltd. American Crane & Equipment Company BB&T Reading Intermediate High School ninth graders learn Berks County about horticulture at Ontelaunee Orchards. Agricultural Center Brentwood Industries Students Interacting with Business Cambridge-Lee Industries LLC Carpenter Technology For the fourth consecutive year, Berks County ninth graders interacted with Corporation Berks County businesses directly at a business site. The students learned about the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel operation of a business, the factors employers look for in a good employee, and about opportunities for employment in Berks County and beyond. In 2016, we had 3,803 East Penn Manufacturing Co. students from 16 of the 18 Berks County school districts visit at 26 participating EnerSys businesses in class-size groups from September 26 to 30. Fraser Advanced Information Systems Met-Ed, A FirstEnergy FACTORS EMPLOYERS CONSIDER WHEN HIRING Company Ontelaunee Orchards School Performance: Computer Literacy: Completion of high school diploma Background and practice in Penn State Health St. Joseph (indicating successful achievement fundamental principles and usage. of an important goal), mastery of Quadrant Engineering Work Experience: Prior work basic skills, and participation in Products experience (paid or unpaid), volunteer - extracurricular activities. Reading Eagle ing a plus; demonstrates maturity, Communication Skills: responsibility and commitment. Reading Health System Proper completion of employment Reputation: Trustworthiness, application, ability to read instructions, honesty, reliability, good team member, Remcon Plastics to listen and understand, to speak and able to work independently. What R. M. Palmer Company write and be understood. people think of you follows you! Sealstrip Corporation Attitude: Neat personal appear - Understanding of How and SFS intec, Inc. ance, record of good attendance, Why a Business Operates: UGI Energy Services cooperative view toward shift work Businesses operate to make a profit, and overtime, ability to work as part UGI Utilities, Inc. a good thing; businesses will continue of a team, and does not use drugs. Weidenhammer to exist and to employ people only Systems Corporation as long as their rewards are greater than their costs. WORLD electronics 6. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2016

25 YEARS OF MAKING

Seniors at Berks High SchoolYs E AR IN Intern at AreRaE VIEW continued Businesses In Rapidly Growing Program Interest in offering work based intern - ships as part of the senior year high school curriculum is growing rapidly across Berks County. The Boyertown Area, Brandy - wine Heights Area, Exeter Township, Fleetwood Area, Hamburg Area, Kutztown Area, Reading, Twin Valley, and Wilson Wilson High School seniors, A lexis Shollenberger a nd school districts each have internship Eric Adam, pictured here with their supervisor, T ami Shimp, programs in place during the 2016/2017 are interning at Berks Nature. Both are planning to major in school year. Three other districts are a field of science in college. ey report that the internship actively considering adding the internship experience has “enhanced our knowledge and has given us the elective in 2017/2018. ability to apply it in real life situations.” The internship placement offers students the opportunity to investigate thoroughly a career field where they have Students who work with both their minds and their a perceived interest. Through the experi - hands during their placement (e.g., manufacturing) and ence the student verifies that the career for whom their presence adds value to the employer are (work) area is one he/she does or does not paid for their work. wish to pursue after high school. Either The Twin Valley has 80 senior outcome is worthwhile. The student students engaged in internships the current school year, learns, for example, if he/she wants to about 25% of the senior class. Brandywine Heights Area, a pursue post-secondary education studies in smaller district, has 20 students placed, approaching 20% the career area he/she has just spent time of the senior class in only the first full year of operation. exploring. Equally, the student may well Internships are a win for everyone. Students learn in have saved countless hours of undergradu - depth about a possible career path before leaving high ate credits and study only to have found school. The internship experience is itself a tremendously that the career for which he/she has been maturing experience. preparing is not the avenue he/she wishes to pursue. Employers gain as they mentor students at a crucial decision point in the students’ lives, taking satisfaction in High school internships are typically the mentoring relationship itself, and most important, scheduled for two hours every day, for one helping to set the student on a path that is life sustaining or both semesters of the senior year. The and of real value to the American economy. program is carefully structured and closely monitored. Students receive one to three A great big thank you to the more than 150 businesses academic credits, dependent upon the and organizations across Berks County that are offering time and duration of the internship. internship placements to students this school year. Annual Report 2016 | Berks Business Education Coalition | A Partnership That Works 7.

G IDEAS HAPPEN

Brandywine Heights Area School District senior Dylan Hoch interning at Speedway Entertainment in Myerstown, PA. Here he is working on the cutouts to Wyomissing Area High School ninth graders visit do some fabrication for a racecar. on March 30, 2016. Ninth Graders From All 18 Districts Participate in Higher Education Campus Visits For the 13th year, the Berks Business Education Coalition has organized and facilitated formal campus visits for students from across the 18 Berks County public school districts. Through the course of these years, some 21,500 students have experienced first time college campus visits at the start of their high school years to learn directly about the culture and expec - tations of higher education and the message of what it takes to succeed academically post high school. In 2016, 3,821 students participated from each of the 18 school districts. Our sincere thanks to Albright College, Alvernia University, Kutztown University, Penn State Berks, and the Reading Area Community College for their partnership in this program. 8. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2016 A Case for Pre-K Education by Dr. Solomon Lausch Throughout all of the current Fifty years ago, the 1966 Johns political debate one theme has Hopkins Coleman Report con - been constant, conservative or cluded that variation in academic liberal, and that is the decline of performance among children in the American middle class. In the United States relates directly 2013, for the first time, 51% of to familial environment, not vari - public school students fell below ations per se in per pupil expendi - the federal government’s low ture or teacher pupil ratio. Let me income standard for free or hasten to add here, as a veteran of subsidized school lunches. That more than 40 years in public edu - standard is 300% of the defined cation, urban, suburban, and rural, federal poverty level. I believe that dollars and class size absolutely do make a difference. In Pennsylvania, the standard The point above is that we must applies also for students to be attend equally to the environment eligible for the state Pre-K Counts in which the child is raised, the early intervention program for early years assuredly, if we want 3- and 4-year-old children. In children from disadvantaged Berks County, the total eligible circumstances to head into life on number in 2014 was 4,949 an equal footing with their peers. children, about 48% of the approximately 10,500 3- and And what are those disadvan - 4-year-old cohort. In the Reading taged circumstances? The School District, the 2,500 eligible landmark Adverse Childhood children today constitute over Experiences Study (ACE Study, 90% of the total 3- and 4-year-old 1997) by the Kaiser Permanente age group in the city. Health Maintenance organization and the Federal Centers for Why all this focus on 3- and 4- Disease Control and Prevention year-olds? The answer is that these provided these insights. The study are the years in which a child’s identified 10 types of childhood brain is rapidly developing and trauma (ACEs), which can associ - equally, when the child is acquir - ate with later life health problems: ing the social skills, self control, physical abuse and persistence which matter for • mother treated violently success in life. • • sexual abuse For children raised in poverty, • household substance abuse in disadvantaged backgrounds, the • emotional abuse argument for enrollment in quality • household mental illness Pre-K education, 3- and 4-year- • physical neglect olds, is compelling. Poverty in and • parental separation or divorce of itself does not predict for dimin - • emotional neglect ished school achievement and • incarcerated household member later life problems. The factors Subsequent research over the which so regularly associate with 20 years since the report has poverty, however, do predict. Annual Report 2016 | Berks Business Education Coalition | A Partnership That Works 9. examined the cumulative effect of ACEs, determining a strong relationship not only to health but to numerous social and behavioral problems throughout the develop - ing and later life span. The Philadelphia Urban ACE Study (2013) focused specifically on children in an urban setting. The study found that 37.3% of Philadelphia’s adults had experi - enced four or more ACE factors, representing 432,100 adults. Two of five Philadelphia adults, for example saw or heard violent incidents while growing up. Clearly, children who experi - ence several or more ACEs in their early years begin school sig - nificantly disadvantaged compared to their peers without the ACE the effects of toxic ACEs in the Pre-K education requires the factors trauma in their upbringing. child’s environment. We must resources to assure a well educated, Nobel laureate economist James intervene for those children whose properly trained teacher for each Heckman, University of Chicago environment predicts for stress classroom, and the financial has researched extensively on the and social dysfunction. We must resources to attract and keep the topic. In a 2007 paper presented use these years, the years of 90% teacher there. It requires a teacher to the Allied Social Sciences cognitive development, consciously to student ratio no greater than Association, he and his associate to inculcate motivation, ingrain 20:1 with one or more properly Dimitrey Masterov concluded that the need to achieve, self control, vetted and appropriately trained “a principal benefit of early child - perseverance, the capacity to act classroom aides. hood education intervention is in appropriately in the larger society. shaping the non-cognitive skills – It can be done and must be behavior, motivation and self We can all do this if we have done. We must intervene early control . . .” which matter for suc - the will to do so. We can do this and continue the intervention cess in life. Paul Tough, in a major and more. We can teach to the developmentally all through the piece in the June 2016, The precepts of science, technology, early childhood and middle school Atlantic, puts the cumulative engineering, and mathematics. years. Only then will we see real findings of the past 40 years forth - We can teach to the arts. And evidence of progress: higher out - rightly: “Children with two or equal to all, we can inculcate the comes on standardized measures of more ACE factors are eight times need to achieve, we can model achievement; significantly reduced as likely as children with none to and teach perseverance, we can dropout rate in grades 9, 10, 11; demonstrate behavioral problems; enable the capacity for delayed better, more lasting integration chronically elevated stress leads to gratification. into productive, self-reliant, physiological and neurological independent living. We can do all of these things adaptions that affect the way the with organized, properly prepared Since 1972, the United Negro child’s mind and body develops.” formal programs of public and College Fund has been reminding What then can be done? The private Pre-K education. And we us that a mind is a terrible thing to answer, for me, is to use the can do it only with the adequate waste. It is our moral obligation vehicle of early childhood educa - provision of resources. It does no not to do so. It is in our national tion, the Pre-K years to intervene, good to provide a 10-foot ladder self interest to make sure it is not. ameliorate developmentally for to climb a 20-foot wall. So, why then are we so hesitant? 10. A Partnership That Works | Berks Business Education Coalition | Annual Report 2016

15 % EDUCATION 62 % BUSINESS FINANCIAL REPORT OPERATIONS 2015 2016 Operating Income: Business 85,550 68,500 23 % Education 16,500 16,900 FOUNDATIONS Foundations 14,600 24,600 Interest on Savings 62 66 Total Operating Income $116,712 $110,066

Operating Expenses: Salaries and Benefits 81,026 85,289 Other Operating Supplies & Expenses 30,335 28,647 Total Operating Expenses $111,361 $113,936 2016 OPERATING Operating Gain (Loss) $5,351 ($3,871) INCOME

13 % EDUCATION PROGRAM EXPENDITURES 201 5 201 6 Direct Payment to Schools 1,064 74,999 inside BERKS business 12,245 0 Higher Education Campus Visits 2,380 4,640 14 % Total Program Expenditures $15,689 $79,639 FOUNDATIONS

Financial Position Total Liability and Equity $197,947 $171,030 73 % BUSINESS

201 5 OPERATING INCOME Annual Report 2016 | Berks Business Education Coalition | A Partnership That Works 11.

MEMBERSHIP LIST

Albright College Catherine V. & Martin W. Greater Reading Economic Reading Muhlenberg Alcon Research, Ltd. Hofmann Foundation Partnership Career & Technology Center Alvernia University Connors Investor Services Inc. Hamburg Area School District Reading Royals American Crane & Conrad Weiser Area Jerlyn Foundation Equipment Company School District Kutztown Area School District Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP Customers Bank Kutztown University Remcon Plastics BB&T Bank Daniel Boone Area M&T Bank Riverview National Bank School District Berks Career & Marlin Miller Jr. Family R. M. Palmer Company Diocese of Allentown Technology Center Foundation Schuylkill Valley Berks County DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Met-Ed, A FirstEnergy School District Agricultural Center East Penn Company Sealstrip Corporation Manufacturing Co., Inc. Berks County Community Meridian Bank SFS intec, Inc. Foundation E. J. Breneman, Inc. Muhlenberg School District Tompkins VIST Bank Berks County Intermediate Unit EnerSys Oley Valley School District Tulpehocken Area Berks County Workforce Exeter Township School District Ontelaunee Orchards School District Development Board First Energy Foundation Penn State Berks Twin Valley School District Berks Technical Institute First National Bank of PA Penn State Health St. Joseph UGI Energy Services Brentwood Industries First Priority Bank Penske Truck Leasing Co. UGI Utilities, Inc. Boyertown Area School District Fleetwood Area School District Quadrant EPP USA Weidenhammer Systems Brandywine Heights Area Fraser Advanced Corporation School District Quality Investment Information Systems Castings, Inc. Wells Fargo Cacoosing Family Fulton Bank Charitable Foundation Reading Area White Star Tours Giant Food Stores Community College Cambridge-Lee Industries LLC Governor Mifflin School District Reading Eagle Carpenter Technology WORLD electronics Corporation Greater Reading Chamber of Reading Electric Wyomissing Area Commerce and Industry Reading Health System School District 2016 ANNUAL REPORT www.berksbec.org board members Richard Bashore Reading Electric James M. Connors officers Connors Investor CHAIRMAN SECRETARY Services Inc. John P. Weidenhammer Alan J. Ottinger President John D. Craig President QIC, Inc . EnerSys, Inc. Weidenhammer Systems Corporation Dr . Paul B. Eaken EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Fleetwood Area VICE CHAIRMAN Dr. Solomon Lausch School District Dr. Jill M. Hackman Berks Business Dr. Richard Faidley Executive Director Education Coalition Boyertown Area Berks County School District Intermediate Unit Dr. George Fiore Kutztown Area TREASURER staff School District Jeffrey R. Rush President EXECUTIVE Dr. Thomas F. Flynn Fulton Bank DIRECTOR Alvernia University Dr. Solomon Lausch Dr. Philip J. Fromuth Diocese of Allentown EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Paris Ann Smith Andrea J. Funk Cambridge-Lee Industries LLC Dr. Steven M. Gerhard Marlin Miller, Jr. Rolf D. Schmidt Governor Mifflin Norwich Ventures, Inc. Sharpoint LLP School District Dr. Khalid Mumin Bruce G. Smith Dr. Randall Grove Reading School District Fulton Bank Conrad Weiser Area Jeannine O’Neill Michael Toledo School District Rohrbach, CPA Centro Hispano Ellen T. Horan Brentwood Daniel Torres, Inc. Greater Reading Industries, Inc. Chamber of Christina L. Weeber, CPA Commerce & Industry Paul R. Roedel East Penn Manufacturing Co. Steven P. Keifer (retired) Wyomissing Foundation Dr . Anna Weitz Hamburg Area Dr. Rudy Ruth (retired) School District Reading Area Wilson School District Community College William Long , Sr . Roger Schmidt Chester M. Winters M&T Bank E.J. Breneman Reading Area Community College January2017