After years of decline in Buffalo's vocational school system Albany is making plans to transform Burgard High School into a manufacturing magnet school.The school board last night unanimously approved a plan to ally Burgard and Alfred State College in graduating the highly-educated workers area manufacturing needs.
Supporters say there will be 17,000 jobs opening up in the area just through retirements.
"Advanced manufacturing is the third-largest employment sector in our region," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
"This pipeline program is essential to a thriving economy in this region."
The plan is to provide training, Regents diplomas and associates degrees.
"This aligns Burgard with the stackable credentials model in advanced manufacturing," said Say Yes to Education Executive Director David Rust.
"Say Yes Buffalo covers the tuition scholarships."
The program will build on Burgard's existing vocational programs, what are now known as CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs.
The goal is to improve high school graduation rates and the number of those receiving associates degrees.
Albany will pick up extra costs and there will be no loss of teacher jobs.
