HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and the University of Kansas brought school administrators and corporate leaders together on Tuesday to talk about an initiative they hope will get both sides working together to fill the skill gaps in the area’s future workforce.

Nick Jordan with the University of Kansas headed up the meeting as part of a study and series of similar meetings. He hopes the meetings will provide information to the Board of Regents and state education about what is needed to fill that gap. Jordan says the skilled workforce shortage started with a separation of the education and business sectors:

 

During the meeting, both sides seemed to feel that more needed to be done by the other to make sure students are more engaged and that opportunities exist for students to have the exposure in the workplace.

Some business leaders said that students don’t receive the problem solving skills and abilities because some school districts don’t provide enough hands-on opportunities. Educators feel that some companies aren’t engaging students in school enough mostly because labor laws prohibit such exposure. Jordan stressed the necessity for both:

 

One company in attendance was Bradburry Corporations in Moundridge. CEO David Cox talked about, not only getting students exposure to the skills needed to work, but also the other attributes an employee needs to be successful:

 

USD 308 Superintendent Gary Price, who took time to tout the school district Career and Technical Education Academy, says the district is ready to meet any challenge the business sector asks for. He hopes Chamber President Debra Teufel can get both sides together again and come up with a plan that the area schools and businesses can use to get students more engaged in learning. He would like the plan to remind students that what they are learning does have an impact on their futures.