Berkshire Union Free School District (BUFSD) has applied for and received a $900,000 Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) grant from the NYS Education Department. This grant will allow the Tri-County Consortium of Berkshire, Taconic Hills, New Lebanon, Cairo-Durham, and Rensselaer City to provide students with disabilities access to curriculum and work-based learning opportunities with the purpose of attaining the CDOS Commencement Credential.
[private]“We are excited to model our Workforce Development Program for partnering public school districts,” said Bruce Potter, Superintendent of BUFSD.
Established in 2012, BUFSD in partnership with Berkshire Farm Center developed the Berkshire Workforce Development Program. Berkshire’s program begins with a classroom curriculum specifically designed to support the attainment of the 10 most desirable workforce readiness skills. Employers deem these “soft skills” that employees lack as critical. The World of Work curriculum also includes resume development and interviewing skills. Work-based learning opportunities include internships for students through its operations budget in custodial services and trades. Berkshire has developed social enterprises with its horticulture program’s annual plant sale as well as a fully functioning pizzeria and catering program, vending services with 42 machines located in 17 area businesses, and a 4,000 tap maple syrup production system with bottles of Berkshire syrup on shelves at 15 different stores.
Berkshire students also obtain paid externships within community businesses. This year’s partners include Boys and Girls Club, Animalkind, Backwater Grill, Butternut Ski Resort, Hitchinpost Café, Topsy Treats, and Mep’s BBQ, where students will learn skills necessary to thriving in the workplace. As nearly 80 percent of BUFSD’s population are students with disabilities, Berkshire Jr. / Sr. High School is an effective guide for best serving youth that perform better in non-traditional school and work environments. The Warren Street Academy, Berkshire’s community school located in the city of Hudson, also has Workforce Development through a grant received from the Columbia-Greene Workforce Investment Board with a tremendous partner in American Glory Restaurant in Hudson.
Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth is New York’s largest child welfare organization, serving thousands of youth and families from Plattsburgh to Long Island and from Buffalo to Albany. An independent, non-profit organization, Berkshire provides a host of programs ranging from prevention services designed to help families stay together through difficult circumstances to foster care, group homes, residential treatment, and secure detention. Berkshire is headquartered on the campus of its residential treatment center in Canaan, N.Y. [/private]