Better Job Training for Students Urged

The Conejo-Las Virgenes Future Foundation released a report Tuesday calling for more cooperation among government, education, civic and business leaders to better tailor the education of youngsters to the needs of employers.

The report sums up the discussions of a Sept. 28 forum called Partnership for Workforce Development that was attended by local leaders.

Local employers said they often are forced to look outside the area for qualified personnel and were faced with the difficult task of bringing workers into the expensive Conejo Valley.

While agreeing that more cooperation between the different sectors was essential, forum participants came up with more questions than answers.

“How do you get the companies to take a longer-term view so that the education system can meet their needs?” asked Charles Maxey, dean of the business school at Cal Lutheran University.

Marilyn Lippiatt, superintendent of the Oak Park Unified School District, said schools need to develop programs in partnership with the business community to show students the relationship between what they learn in school and what they may do in their careers.

The forum was the first of three organized by the local think tank. The next two forums are planned for next spring and will address educational preparedness and personal well-being.

After gathering input from the forums, the foundation plans to put together a task force and recommend actions to the representatives of business, government, education and the community.

“Having a couple of colloquia is not what this is about,” said Jeff Reinhardt, chairman-elect of the foundation. “We want to come up with practical suggestions that are useful.” It will be up to government, business and education leaders to implement them, he added.