VALDOSTA – A new partnership between local business owners, community stakeholders and educators is in the early stages of development to provide local students with more job readiness skills and to improve the workforce in the future.

The Valdosta — Lowndes County workforce is a concern for several community members. The topic has been heavily discussed at past candidate forums and educational summits held across the area over the past several months. Discussions on the matter often leave participants to think, “What can I do to better the community or to help improve the quality of future employees?”

A group of leaders gathered for an informational session Tuesday at Valdosta High School to hear Valdosta City Schools’ potential plans of establishing a College & Career Academy to strengthen the workforce pipeline with the community’s collaboration.

“College and Career Academies were introduced to our state in 2007 by former Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle to offer high school students access to accredited college level courses and technical certification programs,” Superintendent Dr. Craig Lockhart said opening the session.

The academy would give high school students access to specialized training in the areas of engineering, biomedicine, technology, logistics, robotics and additional skills needed to compete in the local and global market.

Lockhart named several benefits for establishing an CCA not only for VCS but also for the region.

“There are no CCAs within 100 mile radius of our school system,” he said. “This designation will make us the first and only CCA in the central south. While VHS boasts a 94% graduation rate, College and Career Academies have been shown to keep students in school by offering relevant and engaging course work and that makes students more likely to stay motivated and complete their high school education.”

Russ Moore with Seamless Education Associates followed by sharing more insight about the potential establishment. The primary mission of all CCAs is centered around improving the local and regional workforce, starting in k-12 schools. Moore’s presentation showed that 65% of the projected new jobs in Georgia for 2031 will require either a high school diploma or some college education.

Moore said Georgia state law requires a partnership between at least one Board of Education, a technical college, and local employers.

VCS is in the early planning stages starting with a group of public and private volunteers serving on a steering committee.

The Valdosta City Schools College and Career Academy Steering Committee will hold monthly meetings throughout the next year to work on an application for a state CCA grant. If selected, the funds could help with establishing a new facility for the academy.

To learn more about how to contribute to the partnership please contact CHS CTAE Director Michael Rewis at michael.rewis@gocats.org or 229-671-6000 ext. 5037.