BROOKFIELD, Ohio – Students can now leave high school with industry credentials, job experience and a direct path into careers that can pay tens of thousands of dollars a year.
Toby Gibson, superintendent of Brookfield Local School District, discusses the ribbon cutting for the new Brookfield Regional Community Training and Learning Center, a facility designed to expand career education, workforce development and community services.
Gibson says the center brings several programs under one roof that give students access to hands-on training and industry-recognized credentials while allowing them to remain connected to their home school.
The district is also responding to growing demand from local manufacturers. Gibson says students in Brookfield’s Industry 4.0 program connect directly with employers, and some graduates enter the workforce within weeks of graduation, earning about $65,000 because of credentials earned in high school.
The center also expands its reach beyond students. A partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank will establish a community food pantry, while SCOPE Senior Services will provide programming for residents age 55 and older. School liaison offices will also operate from the facility.