MONROE - A program meant to enhance the learning of students with disabilities enrolled at Monroe High School has been actively providing work and life skills, and now in its second year, has opened a micro-business at the school.
Students Realizing Independence Via Education began with five students during the 2016-17 school year, lead teacher Donna Cairy said. This year, there are eight students taking part in the four-step process to prepare them for life beyond high school.
Cairy said some students attend Blackhawk Technical College while others receive training at nearby company GreenCo Industries, but some students are left behind.
"We just felt like there was a hole, or a gap, in our community," Cairy said. "We felt we needed to do something to help this middle group."
After five years of securing grant funds, outlining curriculum and gaining advice from other programs, they began STRIVE. The program has been used to help students gain skills to live independently, successfully join the workforce and integrate with the community.
Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe said facets of the program apply to different students, but helping students learn to live on their own includes teaching skills like cooking, cleaning, managing money, personal hygiene, maintaining a home and securing a method of transportation. Vocational skills include communication, customer service, working within a team, managing time and even trade-specific skills.
"What we've been able to do is develop a program that connects kids with opportunities and resources so that once they graduate from high school we believe they have the opportunity to become contributing members of a community," Monroe said. "That's really important to me because we've had kids over the years where ... we've realized not all of them have been as successful as we would have liked."
He said the program serves multiple needs by helping students find post-graduate work and helping employers identify workers in a field where there may be a shortage of employees. He and Cairy both noted the program begins with basic lessons applicable to all students and becomes more specialized to tailor to specific students.
The program serves anyone with intellectual disabilities to those with health impairments or autism, Monroe said.
Career skills are bolstered by a partnership with local business Frank's Franks, which helped students set up a micro-business near the office of the high school to operate during lunch periods. Monroe spoke to owner Frank Pivonka to organize the micro-business, crediting him for support of the idea.
Monroe said the students receive items at a discount from Pivonka to make a small profit. They serve things like hots dogs or Italian beef to fellow students and staff. During the weekly "Frank's Fridays," students operate a cash register, greet customers, market the business and stock food items like any other retail operation, but in a familiar setting.
On Friday, senior Brok Bertalot helped his co-workers operate the cart and despite initial nerves, said he now actively takes part each week.
"I was really nervous the first day," Bertalot said. "I'm feeling okay about it now."
Junior Cormac Walsh said he enjoys greeting customers more than any other task he does for the micro-business while fellow junior Stephanie Pautsch noted that she likes serving the food while spending time with her co-workers.
Once students complete the first three steps of the program, which are independent living, vocational skills and taking part in the micro-business, they receive STRIVE Certification. This promotes them to community integration, the final step of the program. Students are assigned business internships throughout the area, with a final goal to provide good matches between student-workers and employers.
Monroe noted a few students are currently working during part of the school day. One student in particular has been successfully working during the middle of the day to the enjoyment of his employer.
Cairy said the program has been successful so far. Monroe indicated the group has been able to secure grant funding for a minivan for community trips, like on election day when they exposed students to the voting process. The van may also be used for different uses in the future.
- Marissa Weiher contributed to this story.
Students Realizing Independence Via Education began with five students during the 2016-17 school year, lead teacher Donna Cairy said. This year, there are eight students taking part in the four-step process to prepare them for life beyond high school.
Cairy said some students attend Blackhawk Technical College while others receive training at nearby company GreenCo Industries, but some students are left behind.
"We just felt like there was a hole, or a gap, in our community," Cairy said. "We felt we needed to do something to help this middle group."
After five years of securing grant funds, outlining curriculum and gaining advice from other programs, they began STRIVE. The program has been used to help students gain skills to live independently, successfully join the workforce and integrate with the community.
Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe said facets of the program apply to different students, but helping students learn to live on their own includes teaching skills like cooking, cleaning, managing money, personal hygiene, maintaining a home and securing a method of transportation. Vocational skills include communication, customer service, working within a team, managing time and even trade-specific skills.
"What we've been able to do is develop a program that connects kids with opportunities and resources so that once they graduate from high school we believe they have the opportunity to become contributing members of a community," Monroe said. "That's really important to me because we've had kids over the years where ... we've realized not all of them have been as successful as we would have liked."
He said the program serves multiple needs by helping students find post-graduate work and helping employers identify workers in a field where there may be a shortage of employees. He and Cairy both noted the program begins with basic lessons applicable to all students and becomes more specialized to tailor to specific students.
The program serves anyone with intellectual disabilities to those with health impairments or autism, Monroe said.
Career skills are bolstered by a partnership with local business Frank's Franks, which helped students set up a micro-business near the office of the high school to operate during lunch periods. Monroe spoke to owner Frank Pivonka to organize the micro-business, crediting him for support of the idea.
Monroe said the students receive items at a discount from Pivonka to make a small profit. They serve things like hots dogs or Italian beef to fellow students and staff. During the weekly "Frank's Fridays," students operate a cash register, greet customers, market the business and stock food items like any other retail operation, but in a familiar setting.
On Friday, senior Brok Bertalot helped his co-workers operate the cart and despite initial nerves, said he now actively takes part each week.
"I was really nervous the first day," Bertalot said. "I'm feeling okay about it now."
Junior Cormac Walsh said he enjoys greeting customers more than any other task he does for the micro-business while fellow junior Stephanie Pautsch noted that she likes serving the food while spending time with her co-workers.
Once students complete the first three steps of the program, which are independent living, vocational skills and taking part in the micro-business, they receive STRIVE Certification. This promotes them to community integration, the final step of the program. Students are assigned business internships throughout the area, with a final goal to provide good matches between student-workers and employers.
Monroe noted a few students are currently working during part of the school day. One student in particular has been successfully working during the middle of the day to the enjoyment of his employer.
Cairy said the program has been successful so far. Monroe indicated the group has been able to secure grant funding for a minivan for community trips, like on election day when they exposed students to the voting process. The van may also be used for different uses in the future.
- Marissa Weiher contributed to this story.