ETSB looking to branch out vocational services with other Estrie boards

During Tuesday evening’s Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) council of commissioners’ meeting, the board adopted a resolution to study the possibility of joining forces with neighbouring French boards to better meet the vocational training needs of businesses in the region.

According to ETSB Chairman Mike Murray, the plan is a next step to the recently launched Concomitance (2-4-U) project, which is a collaboration among the ETSB, Des Sommets, Hauts-cantons and Région-de-sherbrooke school boards.

Students enrolled in Concomitance have the opportunity to pursue a vocational training program offered at any of the four school boards in addition to core studies at their home school, eventually graduating with a high school diploma as well as a vocational training certificate.

The program is a response to a province wide labour shortage.

Murray explained that the study approved by council on Tuesday will look at ways the four Estrie boards could work collectively to meet the needs of regional employers by regrouping services and resources.

“We want to go out to employers and say, what do you need?” Murray said.

Murray described the idea as a compliment to current programs, where workshops and sessions could be organized using teachers and school resources at remote locations to help employees at a business upgrade or diversify their training to meet specific needs.