WORK CONTINUES — Sophomores Olivia Dickson and Victoria Redman add new flooring to the Utica Shale Academy’s new building at the former Huntington Bank in Salineville. -- Contributed

SALINEVILLE — Students at the Utica Shale Academy are building their skills to become workers of tomorrow.

Members of the National Center for Construction Education and Research core construction class have been gaining experience prepping their new digs at the former Huntington Bank building just a few doors down from the main school site on East Main Street in Salineville. Most recently, they have been literally laying the groundwork by adding flooring to the facility.

“They are learning to do small construction and worked on wiring, drywall and flooring at the Huntington Bank building,” said Superintendent Bill Watson. “For two months they’ve painted, did drywall and lighting and will redo the trim and restaining trim work. We’ve had 15 students work intermittently on projects.”

The brick flooring was donated by Summitville Tile, which employs current and past academy students. Watson noted that the concrete work outside the building was also part of NCCER.

The program recently expanded after acquiring the former bank building for career and workforce development with a classroom, offices and a hands-on work area while the original Hutson Building houses the career-tech skills training and online curriculum. The Huntington building was purchased in partnership with Youngstown State University using funds from a $300,000 capital budget bill location, thanks to state Sen. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, and state Rep. Tim Ginter, R-Salem.

The academy has expanded beyond oil and gas and includes megatronics, PLC’s, Internet-based courses, AC/DC electronics, pneumatics and hydraulics and electrical relays as well as a multimeter panel for electrical monitoring.

Students are learning how to operate construction and related vehicles and the indoor/outdoor welding lab should be open in the next year. USA has also partnered with YSU to permit students to use the university’s skills accelerator program. USA uses the Virtual Learning Academy through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for online learning and a hands-on education that allows students to prepare for the workforce while in high school. They earn industry credentials as well as skills. USA also has been working with the Sustainable Opportunity and Development Center in Salem and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program, and USA even provides Mahoning-Columbiana Training Association services for out-of-school youth to assist with training and job placement.

Other offerings include a horticulture program through Snap-On, where participants may earn an NC3 certification, in addition to a safety program on backhoe and forklift operation through NCCER.

“Horticulture will be a part of the Kubota Tech training where we use heavy equipment in landscaping. We’ve been using instructors to get things done and get beds ready,” he said.

Students have been developing a koi pond and waterfall and landscaped the area near the Salineville Police Department. USA received a $660 Best Practice Grant from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center toward that endeavor that also was part of an Eagle Scout project.

He continued that students not only gain certification, but they realize the importance of all their hard work.

“They get work done and know what they do matters.”

Currently in its eighth year, the academy currently serves 110 students and combines blended learning and hands-on education to prepare those in grades 9-12 for a variety of industry jobs. For information, contact (330) 679-2000, Ext. 4113, or go online to www.uticashaleschool.com.