10/14/2026
At Monday’s Board of Education meeting, we took time to celebrate some incredible community partnerships and student opportunities.
Tom Hermann, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator with the Southwest Milwaukee Consortium, recognized this year’s WASB Business Honor Roll recipients: Product Service and Manufacturing (PMS), CG Schmidt, and OPCMIA Local 599.
PMS - This Youth Apprenticeship partnership provides students at Whitnall and Franklin High Schools with rare, hands-on manufacturing experience and technical skill development alongside industry veterans. By connecting students directly to major local employers like PSM, the school district bridges the gap between high school and the workforce, setting milestone achievements like record-breaking apprenticeship hours.
CG Schmidt - This partnership between CG Schmidt and the Whitnall School District creates direct pathways for students to gain hands-on construction experience right on district project sites. It strengthens connections between local schools and trade unions like Local 599, giving aspiring tradespeople early access to skilled labor careers.
OPCMIA Local 599 - By connecting students with inclusive mentors like Kilah Engelke and Jon Mattsen during district events, the Whitnall School District breaks barriers and expands career possibilities for all students. This collaboration led to a historic milestone, establishing the region's first Youth Apprentice in the Cement Masons union and creating a proven pathway into skilled trades.
