In an ambitious move to combat local talent drain and better prepare students for the modern workforce, the Ohio County Board of Education is on the verge of approving a pioneering partnership with a regional startup. This initiative aims to transform a state-mandated course into a dynamic, real-world work experience for high school juniors. The proposal addresses a persistent challenge faced by many communities: how to provide young people with meaningful career-oriented opportunities that encourage them to build their futures locally. By embedding practical internships directly into the curriculum, school officials hope to create a seamless transition from the classroom to the professional world. The collaboration, if greenlit, would leverage a technology platform to connect Wheeling Park High School students with a network of local businesses, establishing a structured talent pipeline designed to benefit both the next generation of workers and the regional economy. The board is now carefully weighing the framework of this venture, which represents a significant shift from traditional educational models toward a more integrated, experience-based approach to learning and career development.
Bridging the Gap Between Education and Employment
A Strategic Partnership for Practical Experience
The core of the proposal centers on a comprehensive reimagining of a new, year-long personal finance class mandated by the state, set to launch in the upcoming academic year. Rather than confining the course entirely to theoretical concepts, school officials intend to convert the second semester into an immersive, project-based internship program. This innovative structure would allow Wheeling Park High School juniors to apply their classroom knowledge in professional settings, gaining invaluable hands-on experience. The partnership with Hasule, a local startup founded by a Wheeling University graduate, provides the essential infrastructure for this vision. Hasule’s digital platform is designed to function as a dynamic hub where students can build detailed professional profiles showcasing their academic achievements, skills, and career interests. This forward-thinking approach moves beyond the limitations of conventional career fairs and guidance counseling, offering a systematic way to integrate practical work experience directly into the high school curriculum, ensuring that students are not just learning about finance but are actively participating in the local economy.
Forging a Local Talent Pipeline
This initiative is driven by a broader, more strategic objective: to create a robust “talent pipeline” that directly addresses Ohio County’s long-term goal of retaining its youth. By fostering early connections between students and local employers, the program aims to reveal viable and attractive career paths within the community, countering the trend of young people leaving the area for opportunities elsewhere. The Hasule platform is the linchpin of this strategy, serving as a sophisticated matchmaking service. Local businesses can register their needs for interns, volunteers, or participants for short-term projects and job shadowing tours, while students can explore these opportunities based on their personalized profiles. This symbiotic relationship provides businesses with early access to emerging talent and gives students a clearer understanding of the local job market. The platform effectively digitizes and streamlines the process of connecting student potential with professional opportunity, transforming a once-fragmented system into an organized and accessible ecosystem for career exploration and workforce development.
Building a Coalition for Student Success
Unifying Community and Education Leaders
The proposal has garnered significant and unified support from a diverse coalition of community leaders, who recently presented its merits to the board of education. Wheeling Park High School Principal Meredith Dailer emphasized that the partnership aligns perfectly with the school’s ongoing efforts to provide students with authentic, real-life job experiences that complement their academic studies. Her educational perspective was strongly reinforced by voices from the economic development sector. Ohio County Commissioner Zach Abraham and Director of Growth and Retention Stephanie Hockenberry both endorsed the program as a critical initiative for stimulating population growth and addressing a crucial gap in local job creation efforts. They framed the partnership not just as an educational enhancement but as a fundamental tool for long-term economic stability. Tissan Joel, the founder of Hasule, spoke to the platform’s core mission, explaining that its purpose is to empower students to explore potential career paths much earlier than is traditionally possible, helping them make more informed decisions about their futures while strengthening their ties to the local community.
Finalizing the Framework for Collaboration
With strong conceptual backing from key stakeholders, the proposal has now advanced to the critical stage of legal and logistical formalization. The Ohio County Board of Education is meticulously reviewing the detailed legal framework required to launch the partnership. This process involves the careful consideration of two distinct memorandums of understanding and a comprehensive contract that will outline the responsibilities, expectations, and operational protocols for the school district, Hasule, and participating businesses. This thorough review ensures that all legal and procedural safeguards are in place to protect the students and create a fair and effective program for all parties involved. The culmination of these efforts is anticipated at the board’s next official meeting, scheduled for December 22, where a final vote will determine the fate of the initiative. This upcoming decision represents the final hurdle in transforming a visionary concept into a tangible and impactful program for the county’s students, marking a decisive moment for the future of workforce development in the region.
A Pivotal Decision for the County’s Future Workforce
The discussions surrounding the proposed internship program culminated in a moment of significant deliberation for the Ohio County Board of Education. The comprehensive plan, presented by a united front of educators, economic developers, and technology innovators, laid out a clear vision for integrating practical career experience into the very fabric of high school education. The board’s review of the legal documents signified the final, crucial step in a process that sought to build a sustainable bridge between students and the local professional community. The decision made at the December 22 meeting was seen not merely as an approval of a new program but as an investment in the county’s future. It represented a commitment to an innovative model aimed at retaining young talent and fostering a more dynamic local economy. The outcome of that vote set the stage for a new chapter in how the community prepares its next generation for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, establishing a foundational system for career exploration and development.
