Building Operator Pathway With Energy Association of Iowa Schools
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GROW YOUR SCHOOL’S CTE PROGRAMS (AND FUTURE STAFF!) WITH THE BOP
teaching students how to operate and maintain buildings as a profession.
Is your school district searching for more student work-based learning/Career and Technical Education opportunities and/or having trouble finding building operations staff? The Building Operator Pathway (BOP) is for you! This one-year learning experience beginning in 2025-26 will offer:
- OSHA 10-hour training card
- 360 hours of hands-on experience for students
- Exciting introduction to an energy-related career
- Introduction to national Building Operator Certificate (BOC) of Completion
- PD for current staff at no additional cost
- Growing your own future staff
HOW TO BRING THE BUILDING OPERATOR PATHWAY TO YOUR SCHOOL
STEP
1
Your Iowa school district wants to provide more student work-based learning opportunities while also growing your own building operators for future job openings in your school and community.
STEP
2
Your school building operator or another area industry building operator is interested in mentoring and supervising junior and senior high school students in a 2-3 day/week internship. S/he commits to the two-year pathway.
STEP
3
Your school recruits two or more incoming junior or senior students interested in hands-on challenges, energy efficiency, safety, maintenance and how building systems work. They commit to the one-year pathway which includes classwork and internship work each week .
STEP
4
You enroll your team of one current building operator and two or more students in the BOP. For one hour every-other-school day, students will have class either virtually or in person. On the “other” days students will work onsite with an adult building operator– and help complete building maintenance tasks!
THE OUTCOME
#ChillerThanAnAC
Your school/area industry building operator will have expanded knowledge that helps buildings run more efficiently AND your students are qualified to begin a new career in a high-demand area! That’s #ChillerThanAnAC.
Are You a Student Interested in Participating in the Building Operator Pathway? Get Connected With EAIS!
THE CREATION OF THE BUILDING OPERATOR PATHWAY
Energy Association of Iowa Schools (EAIS) created the BOP pilot in 2020 with input from school superintendents and building operators/facility managers. This project was funded with the help of grant dollars awarded to EAIS by Iowa Economic Development Authority/Iowa Energy Center.
Twenty-one participants from seven Iowa public school districts statewide successfully completed the 2021-23 BOP program: CAM, Clinton, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Nodaway Valley, Oskaloosa, Riverside and South Page. That’s #ChillerThanAnAC!