The Bridge History

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The Bridge - History

• Regional Education Initiative (REI)
• Incubated in LC Chamber education committee
• First time top leaders from education, business,
  economic development, and government had been
  brought together to address concerns regarding
  drop outs and workforce adequacy
• Task Force Composition Chancellor of NMSU, 3
  Public School Superintendents, President of Dona
  Ana Community college, All 3 Congressional
  Offices, City Manager, County Manager, Mayor and
  Mayor Pro-tem, Chairman of Dona Ana County and
  Incoming Chair, Public School Board Members, Both
  Chambers, MVEDA and State Department of Economic
  Development, Business, and Community Leaders
• All At the Same Table to Solve The Same Problem

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The Bridge - History

• Completed an analysis of Current Practices/Issues
  and National Best Practices
• Reviewed comprehensive studies (Clarus, others)
• Met with academic and industry experts
• Conducted focus groups with educators, business,
  and students (Research and Polling Inc.)
• Completed a workforce surveyed done by MVEDA with
  over 200 county employers participating

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High-level Findings

• Region lacked a shared vision among the
  educational entities and the community
• High school drop out rate is excessive and
  inconsistently tracked (estimated approx. 38 of
  freshmen wont graduate)
• Comments from drop-outs no relevance no one
  cares
• Successful national models had two common
  elements
• Collaboration among education, business, and
  economic development
• Technical trade education existed and linked
  throughout the educational institutions

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Economic Impact Considerations

• Cost of Drop Outs, Earn lower wages, have a
  higher probability of dependence on social
  programs, approximately 33 become participants
  of the judicial system
• Cost of Re-educating Remedial re-schooling
  required by higher-ed. (DACC and NMSU) results in
  paying for the same education twice
• Cost of Work Ethics Attendance is costing the
  school system an estimated 1 million dollars --
  employers tab???
• Cost of Attracting/Expanding Business MEVDA data
  shows that business ranks workforce fair at
  best. Adequate workforce among top reasons
  businesses did not relocate or expand. National
  rankings adversely impact relocation
  considerations.
• Impact on Future Investment - Demographic Shift
  Without proportionate business growth, the
  population will become unbalanced (a higher
  percentage of retirement and fixed income
  population) which will affect future investment
  in education and economic development
  infrastructure

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The Vision

• Vision Graduate All Students Prepared to
  Compete in an Internationally Competitive
  Workforce.
• Goal 1 To Reduce the County Wide Drop Out Rate
  By a Pre-Determined Rate Annually
• Goal 2 Fully Integrate the Educational Systems
  in Southern New Mexico to Ensure All Students
  Live the Vision
• Goal 3 Provide and Expand the Technical and
  Career Education Opportunities For Students and
  the community in Southern New Mexico

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Desired Outcomes from the REI

• Form a Non-profit 503(c), Joint Funded
  Education, Business, Government
• Ensure Continued Virtual Integration (Bridging)
  of Education, Business, Economic Development, and
  Government
• Transform Business and Economic Development from
  a Traditional Advisory Role to a Strategic
  Driving Partner in Education
• Increase national funding potential into the
  region via grants and other initiatives

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The Board

• Education
• Chancellor NMSU Dr. Manuel Pacheco, President
  DACC Dr. Margie Huerta, Superintendents County
  Schools Stan Rounds, Cynthia Nava, Hatch Bill
  Coker
• Business
• Healthcare- Suzanne Quillen Agriculture- Andy
  Nunez Aerospace Charles Garcia
  Business/Finance Insurance George Ruth
  Construction/Development Rene Cupit
  Manufacturing/Logistics Kari Mitchell Tourism/
  Hospitality/Retail Wanda Mattiace
• Economic Development/Government
• President/CEO MVEDA Las Cruces City Manager
  Terrence Moore Dona Ana County Manager Brian
  Haines.
• Additional Committees TBD

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Best Practice Recommendations

• Virtual Integration of K-20 and Business
  Implementing Best Practices Throughout the System
  (Goal 1)
• Joint funded by education, business, and
  government
• Staff with highly skilled executive director
• Finalize Business Plan and Strategic Plan
• Incubate Smaller Satellite High Schools (Goal 2)
• Serve whole county
• Focus on Career and Technical Education
• Two Approved Locations for 2009
• Arrowhead Research Park Early College
  Highschool
• West Mesa
• Increase Ratio of School Mentors/Counselors to
  Students in Education Systems
• Guidance Not Just Scheduling

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Best Practice Recommendations

• Increase Business Involvement In Education
• Co-operatives, Internships, School to Work
  Programs, etc.
• Implement Soft-Skill Training To Employers to
  Create Better Employees and Better Parents
  (Households) to Support Education
• Develop a Strategy To Focus Career Training for
  Special Need Students
• Increase Communication and Promotion of Program
  and Career Opportunities to Students and Parents
• Strengthen and Expand Alliance Initiatives
• Dona Ana County Legislative Coalition
• Dona Ana County Truancy Initiative
• Promise for Success
• Community Foundation Endorsement
• Others

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Measuring Success - How do we know if we are
successful?

• Employability
• Supply and Quality of Workforce
• Unemployment and income dont necessarily equal
  quality
• Proposed Indicators
• Graduation Rates ( started vs. completed)
  Compare to OECD
• Education Attainment Compare to OECD
• Employer Satisfaction Rating (ethics,
  productivity, supply) MVEDA Survey
• of Successful Dual Credit Completions
• of Employers Involved in Internships, Co-ops,
  and Education to Employer Work Programs
• Decrease in Juvenile Case Load