In between graduation ceremonies, Superintendent Jeff Eakins laid out his plan for Hillsborough County schools at a Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce contact breakfast Wednesday, June 8.
“There is a clear pathway forward,” Eakins, who has served for just over one year, said. “But it takes key ingredients to making that happen. We’re committed. You can’t just have a vision, you have to have a plan.”
Eakins said graduation rates were one of his top priorities for the coming years, followed closely by communication.
“We know the minute they don’t have that diploma, all those open doors to them collapse,” Eakins said. “We have to make sure students walk across that stage.”
The county has been making steady improvements toward that effort. In 2015, the school district had a graduation rate of 76%, up 2% from 2014 and up 6.6% from the last five years.
Strawberry Crest High School, home to the International Baccalaureate program, was ranked fourth in the district last year with a graduation rate of 93%, a 3% increase from the previous school year. At Plant City High School, 88% of the school’s seniors graduated in 2015, followed closely by Durant High School with 87% of the seniors graduating.
The school district has said it will remain focused on being advocates for students, specifically by looking at classroom culture through voices and leadership opportunities. Eakins expressed his desire at building a future workforce in Hillsborough County out of school district graduates.
“If you think about it, developing a workforce requires a lot,” he said. “There’s the skills necessary for the types of jobs and the career awareness with the businesses in town. That kind of connection we have to start building. Once we start building those pipelines, you’ll never have to worry about employment in the future.”
Plant City has taken its own initiatives toward creating a developing workforce with graduates. Last month, Plant City
High School held a Future Fair that brought in apprenticeship programs, local businesses and technical schools. The fair was primarily aimed toward students set to graduate.
School Board member Melissa Snively, who attended both the Future Fair and the Wednesday contact breakfast, said there are goals toward expanding and involving more schools next year.
“We must see ourselves as a player in the future workforce of our community,” Eakins said. “I’m excited about the plan but even more excited about what we’re implementing.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.