As education systems try to keep up with advances in modern technology, schools are more commonly offering opportunities to provide students with tools for future success.

For some students, the shift of focus from strictly school work to experience in a career field of their interest is one way of doing this.

The college and work release program, now implemented for its second full year at Penn-Trafford High School, is providing students with just this kind of option. Through this program, students who have met all graduation requirements and other necessary criteria are permitted to leave school early, either to work at their jobs or take college classes on local campuses.

Principal Tony Aquilio explained the college and work release program is creating a new path for students to take beyond the customary high school-college system.

”10 or 15 years ago, the plan for students was to go to high school for four years, graduate from high school, go to college for four years, graduate from college and then get a job that could support their family based off of their college education,” Aquilio said. “Nowadays, we are finding that there are more opportunities available. There’s no more traditional school setting. It’s just a different route and a different opportunity for some students.”

This program is available to seniors who have already obtained enough credits to graduate, are passing all classes at P-T and have a discipline record that is in “good standing.” Students who meet these requirements and wish to participate in either the college or work release must include it as a part of their class schedule before the last day of school the previous year. Students will not be permitted to take part in this opportunity unless they sign up before this point.

Last year, there were five students doing work release and 17 in college release. Being its second year available, the number of participants has increased to 16 work release students and remained relatively the same for college release, with 16 students taking part.

If participating in the work release portion of this program, students must work at least 20 hours per week at a place of employment approved by the school administration and turn in a copy of their work schedules to the office. They are also required to have their employers complete evaluations on their work each nine-weeks and turn them in at the main office. If any suspicions arise with the evaluation as to the work being done by a student, they may also be asked to prove that they are working the 20-hour-per-week minimum.

For the college release option, students have to be enrolled in at least one class each semester at a college or university approved by the school. Students must be able to verify they are enrolled in the courses prior to each semester, and submit their final course grade on school letterhead.

If a student loses or changes their job or stops enrollment in a course, they are instructed to inform the school immediately. Unless they find a new place of employment or are already enrolled in another college course, they are required to return to a full-day schedule at P-T. The release may also be terminated if a student starts failing one or more of their high school classes, has any attendance issues or any disciplinary concerns.

Assistant Principal Greg Capaccioni is the main facilitator of the college and work release program, taking the lead in organizing the opportunity for each interested student. He said the only difficulty discovered in the program so far comes when a student does not inform the school of such a change in job or course enrollment. He added this has not been a major concern, explaining the program has been working out with few problems.

“I think the reason it runs so smoothly is because of the quality of students that are taking advantage of this,” Capoccioni said. “They’re motivated and I don’t have to babysit them, so to speak. They’re doing what they have to do, so it’s been a very positive experience thus far.”

One student taking advantage of this program is senior Ben Mongelluzzo. He works at a training facility called “Alliance Athletics,” where he spends his afternoons.

“A big reason I enjoy doing it is because leaving school at 10:30 a.m. is much better than staying all day,” Mongelluzzo said.

Capoccioni added the motivation and interest of students in this opportunity is what brought the program about in the first place. Multiple students had informed him they were interested in a work or college release option, because they had already fulfilled graduation requirements, and they felt working a few extra hours or taking college-level courses would be more beneficial to them than taking more classes at the high school.

Because of the high level of student-interest in this opportunity, the school administration discussed the issue with other districts in the area who already offer a program like this to decide upon the most effective way of running the program.

Capoccioni said he believes the program has been successful in providing students with experiences necessary for their futures, despite having been started only recently.

”Although it’s only the second year, I think it’s successful,” Capoccioni said. “It’s giving students real-life experiences: going out into the workplace, taking college classes online, or actually going to the college campus. I think it’s getting students’ feet wet on what to expect after they graduate in May.”

Aquilio has also been involved in organizing this program. He said his main role is to oversee the program and make sure students are being successful in it. Aquilio and Capoccioni meet before the Program of Studies is released to develop the criteria they want students to reach in order to participate in the experience.

Aquilio said students in the program commonly take college courses at local schools that they can easily access, such as Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC). Guidance counselor Melissa Sutmire added some students are also enrolled in classes at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).
Senior Lindsey Burk is currently enrolled in a biology class at WCCC.

“I am going to college for nursing, but biology is one of the required classes,” Burk said. “It is nice to get a head start on college while I am still in high school.”

As for popular workplaces, Aquilio said most students will work for their families’ businesses, but that there is not a typical place of employment beyond this general trend.

Aquilio added the school is working towards extending the work release portion of the program to an internship or job-shadowing position by partnering with local businesses, which would help students decide if they want to study a particular field in college. He added that several of these businesses have expressed interest in sponsoring this program to provide students with an opportunity while also gaining employees and promoting their industry.

Capoccioni said he recommends the program to eligible students who are interested in gaining work or further classroom experience before moving on to the next stage in their lives.

”If they’ve met the criteria here to graduate and they have the ability to go out and work for monetary reasons, gain more experience in a career they want to go into after they graduate, or take college classes outside the school district, I think it’s a good opportunity,” Capoccioni said. “There’s definitely positives to this.”

Sean Kelly
Staff Writer

Erych Frankenfield
A&E Editor

Tony Zona
Staff Writer

Quincey Reese
Managing Editor