An area trade school is collaborating with Capital Region BOCES to bring a new skill set to area high school students this month.
The Upstate Masonry Institute (UMI) completed last fall a weeklong introduction to masonry course to students in the Building Trades and Heavy Equipment programs on the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus. The training was part of the monthlong BOCES celebration of Careers in Construction Month.
They are bringing the training to the Albany Campus for Career and Technical Education Month, with students in the Building Trades program being offered the training starting yesterday and continuing Feb. 1 and Feb 2. Sessions run from 8:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. each day.
February is national Career and Technical Education Month — a time when school districts across the country celebrate programs designed to prepare students for the workforce or to further their education. Throughout the month, Capital Region BOCES is shining a spotlight on its partnerships, as well as current students and alumni that make it special.
Amanda Bedian, director of business development & marketing at UMI, said the masonry exposure initiative introduces students to the Bricklayers Allied Craftworkers trade while taking a hands-on approach to learning the fundamentals of masonry with brick and block.
“The purpose of our exposure initiative is to educate the construction tech students in masonry while informing them as individuals,” Bedian said.
Across the trades, it’s difficult to get workers,” she said, “that’s why we want to get into the classrooms to reach the next generation of skilled workers.”
Bedian, along with members of the Bricklayer & Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 2 Union take part in the training.
Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle said “providing the masonry training in conjunction with UMI is expanding their resumes and building strong, transferrable skill sets.”