PCMA Workforce Development


PCMA Workforce Development
Tool Bag Awards to Vo-Tech Schools The Workforce Development Committee arranges for tool bags, filled with tools of the masonry trade, to be distributed to the top masonry students at the secondary and post secondary levels across the State.

The following awards were distributed for 2010:
Abington Heights High School: Tyler Pensak Admiral Peary AVTS: Cory Yeager Berks Career and Tech Center: Eric Lochman Bethlehem AVTS: Jafet Rodriguez Central PA Institute of Science & Technology: Nik Packer Central Westmoreland Career & Tech Center: Joshua Wolfe Clearfield County Career & Tech Center: Brandon Love Cumberland–Perry AVTS: Ed Geesaman Dauphin County Technical School: Travis Frankenfield Delaware County AVTS-Aston: Kevin Cotton Fayette County AVTS: Nick Matzus Greater Altoona Career & Tech Center: Justus Miller Indiana County Tech Center: Mark Poorbaugh Lancaster Co. Career & Tech Center: Tyler Garman			Lawrence Co. Area Vocational Technical School: Jeff Davis Lebanon Co.Career & Technology Center: Josh Sterner Lehigh Career & Technical Institute: Jake Moyer Mon Valley Career & Tech Center: Tyler Uhlman Parkway West AVTS: Gerry Soknich Reading-Muhlenberg CTC: Kyle A. Cosenza Schuylkill Technology Center-North Campus: Robert Lenosky Somerset County Technology Center: Jamie Foy Sun Area Career and Tech Center: Jeff Cressinger Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology: Brandon S. Ressler The Williamson Free School of Mech. Trades: Alexander Mahan Upper Bucks AVTS: Shane Anderson Western Area Career & Tech: Mike Milvet York County School of Technology: Josh Kline

Note: Additional awards distributed are not listed above if student's name was not supplied by the school.


Fifth Annual Masonry Instructors Workshop The annual Workshop will be held September 27, 2010. This very successful workshop is attended by 75% of the masonry instructors at the secondary and post secondary level. The PA Department of Education will provide Act 48 credits for the 8 hours for the instructors who will attend the event. On the agenda for the day, as determined by the topics of interest to the instructors, is:
	• PBA Endorsement/Certification for Masonry Program Update and RCA Curriculum Overview
		- Jim Eichenlaub, Executive Director, Builders Association of Metro Pittsburgh - C. Deanna Lewis, Director of Career & Certification Services, Home Builders Institute of NAHB
	• Latest PA Initiatives, Program of Study, Student Testing, Teacher Competency Roundtable with PA Department of Education and NOCTI
		- Vincent Safran & Beth Marshall - PA Department of Education - John Foster & Rae Lees - NOCTI
	• Small Group Breakout Sessions:
		- Masonry Tools - John Bongiovanni, Bon Tool Company - Mortar Options for Masonry Shops - Todd File, Graymont
	• Masonry Instructors Association of PA Meeting
We thank PCA Northeast Cements Shippers Association who are again sponsoring this event with us.

	> Click here for a PDF of the Invitation



NOCTI Cut Score Project The masonry instructors at the secondary level in PA expressed concern about the raising of the cut scores for the NOCTI test which determine if a student passes the course. John Koenigsberg, Indiana County Career & Tech Center, was the instructor who brought this issue, that the brick and block tests scores were recently revised to make them too high for most of the students to pass and get a certificate, to the forefront and the attention of the PA Department of Education. PCMA Executive Director, Jan Boyer worked with the PA Dept. of Education through a consultant from NOCTI to review the test and the appropriate cut scores. Three meetings were set up in March with participation from instructors, masons and industry to review the test. In late April, just in time for the final testing for end of school year 2008 – 2009, the results showed that the cut scores should be reduced 30 points beginning immediately. This reduction will make a positive impact on the students and the masonry programs. The NOCTI Consultant, Rae Lees, sent a complimentary note about how accommodating and wonderful to work with our masonry group of instructors, masons and industry representatives were on this project - a good testament to our great industry. This project will now go to the national level to get accurate cut scores for others throughout the US as well.



Masons Maintained on PA Priority Occupations List Through Governor Rendell and the Departments of Education, Labor & Industry, Community & Economic Development and Public Welfare, a list of targeted industry clusters was created to address those sectors facing workforce challenges now and in the future. Industries on the “priority list” are a part of an “aggressive strategy” to increase workforce in those areas. This designation allows for funding from the federal government that is coming to PA to potentially go to mason training at the secondary, post secondary and adult training level. Without this designation, the Secondary and Post Secondary Schools in the State could lose funding for their programs. These programs create “seed employees” for the union and non-union mason contractors alike. There are no down sides to getting this funding opportunity – only negatives if we are removed. When reviewing the Building and Construction Cluster, it was apparent that masonry was not included originally in 2005 but PCMA was able to show support and get masons added to the list. Upon review of the criteria, we could have had masons removed from the list as of July 2007 and again in 2009. PCMA members gathered letters from masonry contracting companies stating the need for masons. Within the two week time frame, we were able to get letters of support showing three times the amount needed by the State. Our submissions were successful in reinstating masons on this very important High Priority Occupations list. PCMA continues to be the lead association as the voice of the masonry industry in the State with the PA Department of Education and The Workforce Investment Board of the PA Center for Workforce Information and Analysis.



Masonry Instructors Association of Pennsylvania (MIAP) Organized as a committee of PCMA, the Masonry Instructors Association of Pennsylvania provides a forum for communication within the secondary and post secondary masonry instructors throughout the State of PA. 28 masonry instructors have joined thus far. They also have a voice to advocate for masonry through the PA Department of Education and with the individual Career and Technical Centers statewide. The input of this group is important to the agenda for the Masonry Instructors Workshop and other initiatives related to Workforce Development efforts by PCMA.