During a special meeting held June 18, the Proviso Township High Schools District 209 Board of Education unanimously approved the creation of a summer employment program within the district. Board member Sam Valtierrez was absent.
In a June 18 memo, district officials said that Anthony Brazouski, D209’s assistant superintendent for human resources, athletics and safety, and Paul Starck-King, the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations, collaborated to develop the program, formerly called Proviso Township High School Student Summer Workers.
District officials said that the program is the result of conversations that D209 board members have had with staff, community members and parents.
According to the memo, the district created the program in order to “maximize efficiency, support the work of district staff, and increase career readiness opportunities for students within the district.”
Through the program, students will be able to work up to 30 hours a week in the district’s maintenance/custodial department under the supervision of building managers.
The program, which runs July 1 through Aug. 9, is open to students who are at least 16 years old. The student-workers will receive $10 an hour.
District officials said that the program will serve “as a pilot with the intent to expand student work experiences beyond this department and summer hours,” adding that the district intends to “develop more extensive offerings via student ‘internships'” designed to promote career and work-place experiences for D209 students.
District 209 Board President Ned Wagner said that 24 slots will be available — 10 each at Proviso East and Proviso West, and four at Proviso Math and Science Academy. Students can pick up applications at their respective schools, he said, adding that jobs will be granted on primarily on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wagner explained that the district will pay for the program with local funds.
