SIDNEY — Ferguson Construction Co. and the Midwest Regional Education Service Center have partnered to provide a skilled trades curriculum to seventh-grade students for the 2018-2019 school year.

This curriculum provides the resources for teachers and counselors to inform students about the careers in skilled trades that are available after their high school graduation. The curriculum is formatted in two, interactive booklets: one for students’ use and one for teachers’ use. The booklets provide steps a student will need to take while in high school to enter into this career path. In addition, the curriculum educates students about the various job opportunities and salaries that are possible after graduation. This information is designed to be both a classroom course and a resource for the student.

There are approximately 4,600 seventh-grade students who will benefit from this partnership throughout seven districts. Ferguson Construction is hopeful that this curriculum will give staff the opportunity to talk with students and bring awareness to those who will be researching job opportunities in the future. This partnership provides the ability to take job-specific videos into area middle schools, showcasing the many different career opportunities available in the workforce, and to provide hands-on activities for students.

The booklets will be sent to middle schools in Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Miami and Shelby counties. The first set of booklets will be sent to Shelby county seventh-graders to help kick-off Skilled Trades Month in November through Workforce Partnership. The other schools will receive the curriculum in the coming months.