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05/15/2023 01:33 PMA delegation from the Connecticut General Assembly helping to represent East Haven toured and touted Careers in Education (CTE) programming at a press conference at East Haven High School (EHHS) on April 24.
State legislators, including representatives Joe Zullo and Vincent Candelora and senators Christine Cohen and Paul Cicarella, praised East Haven Public Schools (EHPS) for demonstrating leadership in establishing an early foundation for its high school students to enter the workforce as prepared and capable workers in a diversity of fields.
Also present were East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora, Michelle Benivegna, and Ed Sabatino of the Department of Administration and Management, EHPS Superintendent Erica Forti, Richard Camporenra Jr., EHPS Chief of Operations and Fiscal Oversight, EHHS Principal Vincent DeNuzzo, and Assistant Principal Amy Farotti.
Sen. Cohen spoke of these efforts and its support in regrowing the state’s workforce in her address at the pre-tour press conference at EHHS’ Library Media Center.
“I just wanted to thank you all, especially Superintendent Forti and Principal DeNuzzo. What you’re doing is really forging a path that the rest of the state can really look to [as] a real model for everybody,” she said. “Having these workforce development programs are essential to grow our economy and ensure that we are growing a workforce that wants to stay here.”
Superintendent Forti spoke of the involved efforts of EHPS’ staff and students in providing the necessary skill set early on for a career in the fields as part of EHHS’ programming, that range from electrical engineering, woodworking, visual and audio media production, the culinary arts, and advanced manufacturing.
“Our district is incredibly proud of our students and our educators who work tirelessly every single day to provide the best possible educational experience we can pursue,” said Forti.
State legislators and town officials were given a tour of the various departments as part of CTE programming, witnessing student - training with advanced manufacturing equipment and in the kitchen preparing aesthetically-pleasing pastries suitable for a local cafe.
Legislators said finding workers to fulfill the ongoing labor shortage across Connecticut has been among the premier issues discussed in Hartford with bipartisan support. They said CTE programming at schools like EHHS can allow young, talented employees to enter the workforce immediately in high-salary positions to regain losses in multiple industries, especially manufacturing.
Early training in jobs such as those in manufacturing demonstrates another dimension to education that should be great benefactors for young adults who are not necessarily interested in attending a higher education institution following high school graduation but instead the workforce. This was a point raised by Rep. Zullo.
“Education is comprehensive, right? It’s holistic. It’s not just about memorization. It’s not just about opening up a book and exposing children to new concepts. It’s about getting your hands dirty. It’s about learning to build something. It’s about finding inspiration through action, And that’s what you’re getting with a program like this,” Rep. Zullo said.
Along with his fellow legislators, Sen. Cicarella praised the East Haven Board of Education for the programming they are offering to its high school students to bolster workforce development.
“We understand that that’s a challenge that we’re having at a state level, and East Haven is definitely taking steps in the right direction to address our workforce development issues,” he said. “It’s very exciting to see that they have expanded their workforce development training and added on a manufacturing program.”
He closed his remarks on the multi-generational benefits of CTE programming, as touted by East Haven town officials as well.
“I think that we need to expose our children to that so we can make sure they have the information they need to make decisions going forward, so they can stay here, work here, raise a family here, and ultimately it’s going to help everyone involved.”