WDBJ7 – LAST UPDATED Jun 21, 2017

Students are getting on the job training, before they’re even employed. Through a partnership between Campbell County Schools and English Construction, students are spending the week learning how to operate a backhoe.

Recent Brookville High School graduate, April Williams, has always known she wanted to have a career in mechanics.

For her, learning to operate this John Deere backhoe is a step in the right direction.

“Having the safety training and I know there’s a not of certifications and I know I’m taking a certification class then it just gets me even closer,” Williams says.

She’s one of 11 Campbell County students and recent graduates participating in a week-long heavy equipment training.

According to English Construction Corporate Safety Manager, Michael Scott, “[we’re] trying to get them interested in construction work, trying to get them into running equipment, due to the fact that we are having a hard time finding people especially at a young age.”

This is the second year English Construction has partnered with the school system.

“We were able to actually have a few of the kids who took the class actually come to work for us,” says Scott.

Technical Center Principal Jon Hardie says the program is very beneficial.

“The students get real experience, hands on experience, with equipment that sometimes schools can’t provide. They also get direct training,” Hardie says.

http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Campbell-County-students-getting-on-the-job-training–429964563.html